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FACSIMILE REPRINTS 


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1 


FULGENS AND LUCRES 


By HENRY MEDWALL 


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THE HENRY E. HUNTINGTON 
FACSIMILE REPRINTS 


I 


FULGENS AND LUCRES 


7 


Of this book 200 copies have been printed 


i 


| 


v 


THE) HENRY E. HUNTINGTON 
FACSIMILE REPRINTS— 


I 


FULGENS AND LUCRES 


BY 


HENRY MEDWALL 


i 
FROM THE UNIQUE COPY IN THE HENRY E. HUNTINGTON 
LIBRARY 


WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY 
SEYMOUR DE RICCI 


¥ 


NEW YORK: GEORGE D. SMITH 
8 East 45TH STREET 
19289 


. 


EXCHANGE 


LONDON: PRINTED AT THE CHISWICK PRESS 
TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE 


The carly English books in the Henry E. Huntington 
Library will all be fully described in the elaborate cata- 
logue prepared under the direction of Mr. George Watson 
Cole. 

Meanwhile it has been thought advisable to place in 
the hands of scholars trustworthy photographic facsimiles 
of a few of the rarer items, especially those which have 
not yet been reprinted and of which no correct text is 
easily available. 

Each reprint will be accompanied by a shart introduétory 
note giving the necessary bibliographical and literary 
information. 


PLS was 


feo 


~ 


INTRODUCTORY NOTE 


BOUT the year 1700, the English bibliophile 
John Bagford pasted into his famous scrap-books 
MS. 5 


two leaves (now in the British Museum, Harleian 
59 1, fol. 20, n. 98) from an unknown early Eng- 
lish play. 

In December 1896, in part ii of the Hand-Lists of 
English Printers, 1501-1556, published by the Biblio- 
graphical Society, the late Robert Proctor (doubtless 
assisted in his work by E. Gordon Duff) listed these two 
leaves among the impressions of John Rastell (1516- 
1533) whose types he had recognized; his entry runs: 
Play concerning Lucretia 4%. 

A few years later, these leaves were reproduced in 
facsimile by W. Bang and R. B. McKerrow in Bang’s 
Materialien zur Kunde des alteren englischen Dramas, vol. 
xii (Louvain, 1905), pp. 100-104, and shortly afterwards 
edited by W. W. Greg in the Collections of the Malone 
Society, vol. i, part 2 (1908), pp. 137-142. 

Meanwhile, E. K. Chambers, in his valuable work on 
The mediaeval stage (Oxford, 1903, 2 vols. 8vo), vol. ii, 
p. 458 (see The Cambridge History of English Literature, 
vol. v, part 1, 1910, p. 454) had observed that the two 
leaves in the Bagford scrap-books were doubtless part of 
the play only known to scholars by the following cryptic 
statement in J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps’ Outlines of the life 
of Shakespeare (sth and subsequent editions, vol. 11, 
pp. 340-341): “The most ancient English secular drama 
which is known to exist was written about the year 1490 
by the Rev. Henry Medwall, chaplain to Morton, Arch- 


1 


hisnop of Canterbury, and afterwards printed by Rastell 
under the title of: a godely interlude of Fulgeus, Cena- 
toure of Rome, Lucres his doughter, Gayus Flaminius 
and Publius Cornelius, of the Disputacyon of Noblenes.“ 

In spite of the tantalizing precision of this statement, 
it conveyed but little to the student as long as no one 
knew where Halliwell had obtained such a remarkable 
piece of information. Did the book still exist? Had 
Halliwell ever seen a copy? In what dark corner was 
this unknown interlude lurking ? 

The answer to the riddle was given to the book-world 
in the spring of 1919. A copy of the missing play was 
among the books from Mostyn Hall sold at Sotheby’s 
on 20 March 1919 (pp. 23-24, n. 226 of the Catalogue, 
with a facsimile of two pages). It was purchased at a 
high price by Mr. George D. Smith and is now in the 
library of Mr. Henry E. Huntington." 

There is not the shadow of a doubt that Halliwell's 
information was derived from the Mostyn copy. We 
have even direct evidence that he had actually seen the 
Mostyn plays, in the following hitherto unobserved 
passage of the late W. C. Hazlitt’s Shakespear, himself 
and his work, a biographical study, third edition (London, 
B. Quaritch, 1908, 8vo), pp. 309-310: “A second ex- 
tremely important assemblage of Shakespear and Eliza- 
bethan quartos, that formerly the property of the Bishop 
of Ossory, was also bound up (like Oxinden’s) at the 
time in a series of volumes, of which two were abstracted 
under unknown circumstances, and sold at Manchester 
and in London respectively in 1881 and 1905. The 
others were dispersed in London in 1907, and were, as 


they had long been, in the possession of Lord Mostyn. 


1 See Frederick S. Boas, The Mostyn Plays, in 7% [London] 
Times Literary Supplement, 20 February 1919, p. 943 Arthur W 
Reed, Fulgens and Lucres, ibid., 3 April 1919, p. 178. 

2 J. e., Griffith Williams, Bishop of Ossory (1589-1672), on whom 
see Dictionary of National Biography, vol. Ixi, pp. 401-403. 

8 


g 


They are identical with the series mentioned to me many 
years since by Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps as being at Mostyn 
or Gloddaeth.“ 

Further details are given by Hazlitt in Aroll of honour, 
a calendar of the names of over 17,000 men and women 
who throughout the British Isles and in our early colonies 
have collected MSS. and printed books, (London, B. 
Quaritch, 1908, 4°), pp. 262-263; referring to the 
Mostyn books sold in 1881 and 1907, he states that “One 
of the plays, The Devil's Charter by Barnabe Barnes, 1607, 
has on the title the signature of Williams prior to his 
accession to the see, and others, if not the majority, may 
also have been more or less early acquisitions. The covers 
of one of the collective volumes bears the initials H. W., 
probably a relative, and the TZ hersites carries on the fly- 
leaves marks of having belonged to other Welsh owners, 
who were not scholars.“ 

The existence of valuable early quartos at Mostyn Hall 
had long been rumoured among book-lovers. Dr. Aldis 
Wright had vainly endeavoured to gain access to them 
some forty years ago according to an amusing tradition 
echoed (by Mr. Edmund Gosse?) in The Sunday Times, 
6 April 1919. 

I can find no details about the Mostyn plays sold 
(according to Hazlitt) at Manchester in 1881 and at Lon- 
don in 1905; but it was an open secret that the remark- 
able series of sixty-eight early plays sold by Messrs. 
Sotheby on 31 May and 1 June 1907 were the property of 
Lord Mostyn. The 1919 sale, with its 364 lots, apparently 
completed the dispersal of this unique collection which 
must at one time have included some five hundred plays 
of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, bound in old 
calf in some forty or fifty volumes, now all taken to pieces 
and dispersed. 

Can we trace back any farther than to Mostyn Hall 
the origin of this valuable collection of early plays and 
te ascertain the original founder (or founders for the 


9 


bindings of these quarto volumes were of two or three 

distinct styles) of this dramatic library? 

A first clue is given by the study of the portion sold 
in 1919. Hardly any books printed after 1670 occur in 
it, so that we thus obtain some kind of a terminus ante. 

The name of the collector actually occurs on the title 
of at least one book, the Duke of Buckingham’s play 
The Rehearsal” (1672) which bears the signature: 
Thomas Mostyn of Gloaddath (Mostyn sale, n. 31; now 
belongs to Mr. Dobell). 

More valuable information still is to be derived from 
a careful study of the various lists of printed plays pub- 
lished in the seventeenth century and so ably tabulated 
by W. W. Greg in A list of masques, pageants, elc., 
supplementary to a list of English plays (London, Biblio- 
graphical Society, 1902, 4°), pp. i-cxx. 

The four lists edited by Mr. Greg are: 

1. “An exact and perfect catalogue of all Playes that 
are printed added by the booksellers Richard 
Rogers and William Ley to their edition of Thomas 
Goffe's play “ The Careless Shepherdess,” 1656. 

2. A similar and somewhat fuller list, derived from the 
above, in Edward Archer’s edition of the “Old 
Law by Massinger, Middleton and Rowley, also 
printed in 1656. 

3. Francis Kirkman’s first list, added to“ Tom Tyler 
and his Wife,” 1661. 

4. Kirkman’s second list, added to“ Nicomede,” 1671. 

In all these four lists Fulgens and Lucres occurs in 
the following shape: 

1. (Rogers and Ley, 1656). Fulgius and Lucrell. 

2. (Archer, 1656). Fulgius and Lucrell. 

3. (Kirkman, 1661). Fulgius and Lucrel. 

4. (Kirkman, 1671). Fulgius and Lucrel. 

The misprint Fulgius and Lucrell for Fulgens and 
Lucres is easily explained; but as it occurs in all four 
lists, it seems certain that 2, 3, and 4 copy here list 1. 

10 


— 


r 


Further and more striking evidence is given by the 
entries concerning Fedele and Fortunio, another play of 
which the only known copy was in the Mostyn collection. 
The lists give it as: 

1. (Rogers and Ley, 1656). Fidele and Fortunio. 
2. (Archer, 1656). Fidele and Fortunata. 

3. (Kirkman, 1661). Fidele and Fortunata. 

4. (Kirkman, 1671). Fidele and Fortunatus. 

Here list 1 alone has preserved the true reading: 2, 3, 
and 4 obviously copy 1 and add misprints. 

It seems therefore possible that the actual copies sub- 
sequently at Mostyn Hall were those seen by Rogers and 
Ley in 1656 and used by them when they were compiling 
their catalogue. 

This receives further corroboration from the presence 
in the Mostyn library of Rogers and Ley’s catalogue 
(Mostyn sale, n. 134) and from the fact that other unique 
or practically unique books such as Enough 1s as good as 
a feast and Common conditions, or very scarce items such 
as Impatient Poverty, fack Juggler, and Thersytes, all 
occur both in Rogers and Ley’s list and in the Mostyn 
sales. 

This confers on the Mostyn plays an additional 
interest as being in all probability the remains of the 
earliest English dramatic library catalogued in print. 

Whether, as Hazlitt believed, this library ever be- 
longed to Bishop Griffith Williams, is a point yet open 
to discussion and on which supplementary research is 
much to be desired. 

* 


* * 


The author of Fulgens and Lucres, Henry Medwall, 
had long been known to us by the following dramatic 
production : 

@ Nature. || ¶ A goodly interlude of Nature copyld 

11 


by mayster || Henry Medwall chapleyn to the ryght re- 
uerent father in god Johan Morton || somtyme Cardynall 
and archellbyshop of Can- terbury . 

N. p. n. d. London, William Rastell, between 1530 
and 1534], small fol., Goth. 36 ff. (a-i‘). 

One of the two extant copies is much cropped (British 
Museum, C.34 e. 54); it contains at the end leaves ci 
and c4 in duplicate (these come from the W. B. Scott 
collection). 

The second copy is in the University Library, Cam- 
bridge (Sayle, n. 351). A single leaf is in the Bodleian 
(Rawl. 4°, 598. 12) and a small fragment, the bottom of 
leaf g4, is in Sir John Fenn’s typographical album, last 
in the Van Antwerp collection. 

The types of Nature are quite different from those 
used in Fulgens and Lucres. 

The most recent biographers of Medwall! ascribe 
to this author another interlude “Of the Finding of 
Truth who was carried away by Ignorance and Hypo- 
crisy. The onlyground to this ascription is the following 
passage of J. Payne Collier, The history of English Drama- 
tic poetry (London, 1831. 3 vols. 12°) L, pp. 64-65: 
.. . The most curious part of this document relates to the 
Revels at Richmond during the festivities of Christmas 
1514-15, which thus commences: 

“For to do pleser the Kyngs grace, and for to pas the 
tyme of Chrestemas, by Sir Harry Gylifurth [Guildford | 
Master of the Revells, was devysed an Interluit, in the 
wheche conteyned a moresks [moresco| of vj persons and ii 
ladys: wherfor by hys commandement, of our soveraine lord 
the Kyng, and at apoyntment of Sir Harry Gylforth, was 
preparyd, had and wrought dyvers and sundry garments.” 

This ts followed by a detail of the materials purchased 
for the making of the dresses, etc; but before I mention 
a few of the particulars, it will render them more in- 

E. g., Th. Seccombe in the Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 
Xxxvii, pp. 207-208. 


12 


2 


telligible, if I quote a singular paper folded up in the roll, 
and in a different handwriting, giving an account of the 
nature of the exhibitions before the King on this occasion. Two 
interludes were performed, one by Cornyshe and the Children 
of the Chapel, and the other by English and the rest of the 
King’s players, and the account of them is as follows: 

Je Interlud was callyd the tryumpe of Love and 
Bewte, and yt was wryten and presentyd by Mayster Corn- 
yshe and oothers of the Chappell of our soverayne lorde the 
Kyng, and the chyldern of the sayd Chapell. In the same 
Venus and Bewte dyd tryumpe over al ther enemys, and 
tamyd a salvadge man and a lyon, that was made very rare 
and naturall, so as the Kyng was gretly plesyd therwyth, 
and gracyously gaf Mayster Cornysshe a ryche reward owt 
of his owne hand, to be dyvydyd with the rest of his felows. 
Venus dyd synge a songe with Beawte, which was lykyd of 
al that harde yt, every staffe endyng after this sortte: 


Bowe you downe, and doo your dutye 
To Venus and the goddes Bewty: 
We tryumpe hye over all, 

Kyngs attend when we doo call. 


Inglyshe, and the oothers of the Kynges pleyers, after 
pleyed an Interluyt, whiche was wryten by Mayster Mid- 
well, but yt was so long yt was not lykyd: yt was of the 
Hndyng of Troth, who was caryed away by ygnoraunce & 
ypocresy. The foolys part was the best, but the Kyng departyd 
befor the end to hys chambre.” 

This portion of the document appears to be in the hand- 
writing of Cornyshe himself, who appended his signature 
in the following form: WILLIAME CORNYSSHE. 

The document relating to the Revels at Richmond 
1514-1515, is in the Record Office (Misc. Bks. Exch. 
T. R. 217); but, as observed by Mr. Arthur W. Reed, 
the “singular paper printed by Collier is nowhere to 
be found and doubtless never existed except in the vivid 
imagination of that thoroughly unreliable author. 


8 


Mr. Reed has gathered together the few scanty docu- 
ments relating to Medwall; the latest bears the date of 
June 1501. 

It is again to Mr. Reed that we turn for information 
on the subject of Fulgens and Lucres. As already dis- 
covered by Prof. Creizenach from the two leaves in the 
British Museum (Shakespeare Jahrbuch, vol. xlvii, 1911) 
the play is a dialogued adaptation of the Controversia de 
nobilitate written by Bonus Accursius or Buonaccorsi of 
Pistoia, translated into French by Jehan Mielot and of 
which an English version by the Earl of Worcester was 
printed in 1481 by Caxton at the end of Cicero’s De 
senectute and De amicitia. We may easily believe that 
Medwall used Caxton’s volume. 

Far more interesting than the actual disputation on 
true nobility is the curious dialogued preamble with re- 
markable statements as to the social condition of English 
actors about A. D. 1500. They are, to say the least, un- 
expected, and no future historian of the stage would be 
wise to neglect this new evidence on the question. 


* 
* * 


The following is a bibliographical description of Ful- 
gens and Lucres. 

@ Here is cõteyned a godely interlude of Fulgens | 
Cenatoure of Rome. Lucres his doughter. Gayusſ flam- 
inius. & Publiꝰ. Corneliꝰ. of the disputacyon of || noblenes. 
& is deuyded in two ptyes, to be played at ii. tymes. 
Copyled by mayster Henry medwall. late || chapelayne 
to ¥ ryght reuerent fader in god Johan || Morton cardynall 
& Archebysshop of Cagterbury. || (coodcut: a gentleman 
and lady talking ).—F. 39v., l. g: ¶ Emprynted at london 
by Johan Rastell || dwellynge on the south syde of 
paulys || chyrche by syde paulys cheyne. 

14 


F. 40: blank. 

4° Goth. 40 ffnc., the last a blank (a-f°, ge) 33 lines to 
a page. Woodcut on title. 

Printed between 1516 and 1533. 

Copy known. 

1. Early owners: Miles Blomefylde, Mr. Ashborne, 
and P. D. Belonged as early as the seventeenth century 
to the Mostyn family, and last to the Lord Mostyn of 
Mostyn Hall, Mostyn, Chester; his sale (London, 20 
March 1919, pp. 23-24, n. 226, and 2 pl.) to G. D. Smith. 
Now in the library of HENRY E. HUNTINGTON. 

Perfect with the final blank (which is partly torn away). 
Formerly bound in old calf with other plays, now separ- 
ately in morocco, by Riviere. 

Fragment. 

2. Two leaves (e 3 and 4) both cropped, are in the 
Bagford scrap-books (British Museum, Harleian MS. 
O19. fol! 20) n.. 98). 


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¶ Here is cõteyned a godely interlude of Fulgens 
Cenatoure of Rome. Lucres his doughter. Gapus 
klaminius.æ Publiꝰ. Coꝛneliꝰ.ot the diſputacpon of 
noblenes. c is deuyded in two ꝑtyes / to be played at 
ii.tymes. Cõpyled by mayſter Henry med wall. late 
chapelapne to p ryght reuerent fader in god Johan 
M oꝛton cardynall a Archebyſſhop of Lauterbury. 


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Foꝛ goddis will 
what meane ye lyꝛs to ſtond ſo ſtill 
Haue not pe etyn € pour full 
And papd no thinge therfoꝛe 
I wys ſyꝛs thus dare J fap 
He that (hall foꝛ the (hott pay 
Mouch ſaueth. that ye largely aap 
Suche mete as he hath in ſtoꝛe 
I tro we vour diſſhes be not bare 
Noꝛ yet ye do the wyne (pare 
Mberfore be mery as pe fare 
peat welcom eche oon 
Unto this houſe with oute faynynge 
But J meruayle moche of one thinge. 
That after this merp dapnkpnge 
And good recreacyon 
There is no woꝛdes amonge this pꝛeſſe 
Non ſunt loquele neq; ſermones 
But as it were men in ſadnes 
Here pe ſtonde muſynge 
where aboute J can not tell 
Oꝛ ſome els pꝛaty dameſell 
Foꝛ to daunce and ſpꝛynge 
Tell me what calt is it not fo 
J an Cure here ſhalbe ſome what a do 
And J wis J will know it oꝛ J go 
with oute J be dꝛyuyn hens 
¶ Intrat B. 
May nay hardely man J vndertake 
No man wyll ſuche maſtryes make 
And it were but foꝛ the maner fake 
Thou maiſt tary by licence 
A. il. 


And it were but foꝛ the maner lake 
Thou mak tarp by licence 
Among other men and ſee the pley 
J warand no man wyll fap the nap. 
SB I thinke it well euyn as ye ſay 
That no man wyll me greue 
But J pap vou tell me that agayn 
Shall here be a play. 
¶ ve foꝛ certeyn. 
¶ By my trouth therof am J glad and fayn. 
£ And ye will me beleue 
Ok all the woꝛlde J loue ſuche ſpoꝛt 
It dothe me fo myche pleſure and comfoꝛt 
And that caulith me euer to reſoꝛt 
8 wher ſuche thing is to do 
4 I trowe pour owyn (elfe be oon 
Ok them that (hall play 
© Map J am none. 
I trowe thou ſpekyſt in deriſion 
To lyke me ther to. 
2 (Cap J mok not wot pe weil 
Foꝛ I thought verely by pour apparell 
That ye bad bene a plaper 
(May neuer a dell. 
¶ Than I cry pou mercy. 
J was to blame / lo therfoꝛ F fay 
Ther is lomyche nyce aray 
Amonges theſe galandis now aday 
That a man (yall not lightly 
now a player from a nother man 
But now to the purpoſe wher F began 
I ſee well here ſhalbe a play than. 
B Cye that ther ſhall doutles 


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And F tro pe (hall like it well 

¶ It ſemeth than that ye can tell 
Sumwhat of the mater 

¶ ve J am of counſell 

ne tolde me all the pꝛoceſſe 

¶ And J pꝛap vou what ſhall it be. 

¶ By mp fapth as it was tolde me 

Moꝛe than ones oꝛ twyſe 

As fare as I can bere tt awaye 

All the ſubſtaunce of theyre play 

Shall pꝛocede this wyſe. 

¶ when thempire ok rome was in ſuch floure 
That all the woꝛlde was ſubgett to the lame 
Than was there an nobill ſenatour 

And as J remẽber fulgens was his name 
whiche had a doughter ok nobill fame 

And yet as thauctoꝛ (arth in veray Dede. 
Her nobill vertu dide her fame excede 


¶ In be it there was not onc all moſt 
Thoꝛough oute all the cyte pong ne olde 
That of her beaute did not bofte! 

And ower that her verteuſe manvfolde 

In ſuche maner wyſe were bꝛayſid and tolde 
That it was thought ſhe lakkede no thing 
To a nobill woman that was accozdyng. 


Grete labour was made her fauour to attapne 
In the wav of mariage and among all 
That made ſuche labour were (peciallp twayn 
whiche moꝛe than other dyd befilp on her call 
On the whiche twayn ſhe (ett her mynde elpeclall 
So that ſhe vtterly determpned in her hert 

d. ttt. 


The one of them to haue all other (ett a parte 


¶ One of them was called publins Cornelius 
Boꝛne of noble blode it is no nap 

That other was one gayus flampneus 

Boꝛne of a poze ſtocke as men doth fap 

But foꝛ all that many afapre day 

Thoꝛough his grete wiſedome z Htueorbe haupour 
He rulyd the comen wele to his grete honoure. 


¶ And how ſo be it that the vulgare opynion 
Wade both thele men in lyke fauour & reuerence 
Suppoling they had bene of lyke condycion 

yet this ſeyd woman of ineſtimable pꝛudence 
Sawe that there was ſome maner of difference 
forthe whiche her anlwere ſhe differred a (pared 
Tyll both theyre cõdycions were openly declared 


¶ And yet to them both this comfort (he gaue 

He that coude be founde moꝛe noble of them twayne 
In all godely maner her harte ſholde he haue 

Ok the which anſwere they both were glade x fayne 
402 ether of them truſtede therby to attapne 
Theffecte of his deſyre / yet when they had do 

One of them mut nedis his appetit foꝛ goo. 


C here bpp on was areylyd a grete doute x queſtiõ 
Euery man all after as he was affeccionate 

Unto the parties ſeyd his opynion 

But at the latte in eſchewyng of debate 

This matter was brought before the cenate 

They to gyue therin an vtter ſentence 

whiche of theſe.ii men ſholde haue ß p̃eminence 


den 


¶ And finally they gaue ſentence and awarde 
That gapus flampneus was to be cõmende 

Foꝛ the moze nobill man hauynge no regarde 

To his lowe byꝛthe of the whiche he dyde dyſcende 
But onely to his Vertue thay dyde therin attende 
whiche was ſo grete that of couenience 

All the cyte of come dyd hym Honour & teuerence 


¶ Ind (hail this be the pees of the play 

¶ ve fo J vnderſtonde be credible infoꝛmacpon 
¶ͥ By inp fapth but yk it be euyn as ye lay 
I myll aduyle them to change that cõcluſion 
what wyll they afferme that a choꝛles ſon 
Sholde be moꝛe noble than a gentilman boꝛn 
ap be ware foꝛ men wyll haue thevof grete ſcoꝛn 
It map not be ſpoken in no maner of cale 

¶ ves ſuche cõſyderacions may be layde 
That euery reſonable man in this place 
wyll holde hym therin right well apayde 
The matter may be ſo well conuayde 
¶ Let them conuay and carp clene than 
2 els he wyll repent that this play began 
Mob be it the matter touchith me neuer a dell 

02 I am nether of vertue excellent 

Qoꝛ pet of gentyl blode this J know well 
But J ſpele it onely for this entent 
N wolde not that any man ſholde be ſhent 
And pet there cart no man blame vs two 
Foꝛ why in this matter we haue nought to do 
¶ we no god wott no thing at all 
Saue that we come to lee this play 
Is farre as we may by the leue of the marthall 


J loue to beholde ſuche myꝛthes alway 
Foꝛ y haue ſene by foꝛe this day 
Of ſuche maner thingis in many a gode place 
Both gode examples and right honeſt lolace 
This play in like wyle J am ſure 
Is made foꝛ the fame entent ad purpoſe 
To do euery man both myꝛth and pleaſure 
wherkoꝛ I can not think oꝛ ſuppoſe 
That they wyll ony woꝛde therin diſcloſe 
But ſuche as ſhall ſtond with treuth and reaſon 
In godely maner according to the ſeaſon 

ye but trouth may not be ſayde al way 
Foꝛ ſomtyme it cauſith gruge + Delpite 
¶ ve goth the woꝛlde fo now a day 
That aman muſt (ap the crow is white 
¶ ve that he muſt be god all myght 
Pe muſt both lye and flater now and than 
That caſtith hym to dwell amonge woꝛidly men 
In ſome courtis ſuch men ſhall moſt wyn 
¶ ve but as for the pariſiſh where J abide 
Suche klaterye is abhoꝛride as dedly ſyn 
And ſpecially lvars be ſett a {poe 
As fone as they may with the faute be ſpied 
Foꝛ euery man that kauoꝛeth and loueth vertue 
wyll ſuche mance of kolke btterlp effcheue 
wherfoꝛ I can think thefe kolke wyll not (pare 
After playne trouth this matier to pꝛocede 
As the ſtoꝛy ſeyth why ſhulde they care 
I tro here is no man of the kyn oꝛ ſede 
Ok either partie / foꝛ why they were boze 
In the cptie of Bome as F ſayd befoꝛe 
Therkoꝛ leue atl this doutkull queſtion 
And pꝛayſe at the parting euyn as ye fynde 


CH —Cyes be ye ſute whan thei haue all done 
IJ wyll not {pare to ſhew pou my mynd 
A up who wyll oꝛ dilpꝛaiſe J will not be behynd 

wyll gett theron what fo euer ſhalbe fall 
It I can kynd any man to geſt withall. 
T Pees no moo woꝛdes foꝛ now they come 
The plears bene euyn here at hand. 
¶ So thei be fo ſelp me god d e 
A pꝛay vou tell me where J (hall ſtand. 
Mary ſtand euyn here by me J warand 
®eue rome there (prs koꝛ god a vowe 
Thei wold cum in ik thei myght fo2 vou. 
¶ ve but F pray the what calt tell me this 
who is he that now comyth pn. 
¶ Mary it is fulgence the lenatour. 
Cve is: what the father of the foꝛleide birgyn. 
ve foꝛſeth he ſhall this matere begyn. 
¶ And wher is feyr doughter lucrece. 
¶ She comyth Anon J fay hold thy pece. 

¶ Intrat kulgens dicens. 

¶ Euerlaſtyng iop with honoure and pꝛaiſe. 
Be vn to our moſt dꝛad loꝛd a ſaupour 
whiche doth. vs help a cõfoꝛt many ways 
Mot lekyng vs deſtitute ok his ayde a ſocour 
But lettith his fon ſhyne ou the riche a pooꝛe 
And ok his grace is euer indifferent 
All be yt he diuerſely comptteth his talent. 


8 8 


Baba Bw 


To ſome he lendith the ſpꝛete of ꝓphecy. 

To ſome the plenty ok tonges elo quence 

To ſome grete wildome a woꝛldly policy 

To ſome litterature and (peculatpf ſcience 
To (ome he geueth the grace o f pempnence 
In honour and degre and to ſome abundance 


Ok treſoure riches and grete inheritaunce. 


¶ Euery man o beth to take gode hede 

Ok this diſtribution foꝛ who lo Doth take 

The larger benefite he hath the moze nede 

The larger recompente and thank therfo2 to make 
I (pede thele woꝛdes onelp koꝛ myne owne fake 
And foꝛ non other pfon fo2 J know well 

That J am therin chargid as J (hall pou tell 


when J conſider and call to my remebꝛaunce 
The plperous lyke that J haue all wep 

Hyderto endured with oute any greuaunce 

Ok woꝛdly aduerſitie well may J ſey 

And thynke that J am bound to peld and pay 
Grete pꝛayſe and thankes to the hye kynge 

Ok whom peedith and gro with euery gode thing 


And certes if I wold not pꝛaiſe of boſte 

The benefpté that he hath done vnto me 

pet is it well know of left and moſt 

Thꝛugh oute all rome hemperiall cyte 

what place in the cenate c honoꝛable degre 

J occupye and how J demean me in the lame 
All this can they tell that knowith but my name 


To ſpeke ok plenty and grete abundaunce 
Ok woꝛdly riches ther vnto belongyng 
Houles of pleaſure and grete inheritaunce 
with riche apparell and euery other thing 
That to a worthy man (hold be accoꝛding 
J am æ᷑ euer haue be in metely gode cafe 


Foꝛ the whiche J thant all mighty god of his grace 


¶ Than haue J a wyfe of gode condicpon 
And right cõfoꝛmable to myn entent 

In euery thing that is to be done 

And how be it that god hath me not ſent 
An hayr male whiche were conuenient 
My name to cõtinew and it to repepre 

pet am I not vtterly deſtitute of an heyre 


Foꝛ I haue a doughter iu whom J delight 
As forthe chefe tomfoꝛt of myn olde age 
And lurely my ſeyd doughter lucres doth hight 
Men ſeyth ſhe is as lyke me in vilage 
As though (he were euyn mpn owne page 
Foꝛ the whiche caule nature doth me koꝛce a bynde } 


The moe to fauour and loue here in my mynde 
o~ Bult pet to the pꝛincipall and grettiſt occaſion 

That makyth me to loue her as J do 

Is this whiche J ſpeke not of affection 

But eupn as the treuth mouth me ther to 

Naturc hath wꝛought in my lucres ſo 

That to (pebe of beaute and clere vnderſtanding 

I can not thinke in here what (hold be lakking 


And beſides all that pet a gretter thing 

whiche is not oft {enc in ſo pong a damelell 
She is ſo dilcrete and lad in all demeanyng 
Aud therto full of honeſt and berteous counfell 
Ok here owne mynd that wonder is to tell 

The giftes of nature and of elpeciall grace 


(02. 


ful. 


(02. 


ful. 
C02. 


Am not J gretly bound in this cafe 

To god as J reherſid pou bifoze 

were to voyd of all reſou and grace 

I J wold not ſerue and pꝛayſe hym therfore 
with due loue dꝛede he alkpth no moze 
As far as he will me grace ther to ſend 

The reſt of mp lik ther in will J (pend 
Albe yt that J mutt partely nitend 
To:repꝛomocyon of my doughter lucres 
To ſoine metely martage ellis god defend 
She is m chiek ie well and riches 

My comkoꝛt agayn all care ⁊ heupnes 


And alfo ſhe is now of gode a ripe age 

To be amãnes fere by wep of mariage 

wherkoꝛ ik J might {ee 02 J dye 

That (he were beſto wid lum what accoꝛdyng 

Then were my mpnd diſchargid vtterly 

Mf euery grete cure to me belongyng 

It was the chief cauſe of my hider chmpng 

To haue a cõmunication in this fame matere 

with on Coꝛneliꝰ cam ther non ſuche here 
Intrat publius Cornelius dicens. 

¶ ves now am J come here at the laſt 

IJ haue taried long J cry pou mercy. 

¶ Nap no offence ther is no waſte 

Monz loſſe of tyme yet hardely 

Foꝛ this is the oure that ye and F 

Apoyntid here to mete this other day 


Now ſhew me your mynd lete me hers what pe fap. 


¶ Than wyll F leue ſuꝑfluite awey 

Foꝛ why pe knob al tedy my mide in ſubſlace. 
CF what not whether J do ye oꝛ nay 

¶ why is it now oute of your remẽbꝛaunce 


— — 
— — 


- See Oe 


ful. 


C02. 


ful. 
coꝛ. 


That mp delite is to honour ¢ aduaunce 
pour doughter lucres if (he will agree 

That J ſo poꝛe a man her huſbonde ſhuld be. 
¶ ve nede not lyr to ble theſe woꝛdis to me 
Foꝛ non in this cyte knowith better than J 
Ok what grete birth oꝛ ſubſtaunce pe be 

My doughter lucres is full vnwoꝛthy 

Ol birth a goodis to loke fo hye 

Saupng that happily her gode cãdicyon 
May her enable to ſuche a pꝛomocyon 


But ik this be poure mynde and ſuche intent 

why do ye not laboure to her therfo2e 

Foꝛ me ſemyth it were ryght expedient 

That we know therin her mynde before 

D2 euer we {hold comune therof any moꝛe 

Foꝛ ik ſhe wold to pour mynde apply 

No man ſhalbe ſo glad therofas J 

¶ Suppole ye that I dyde not lo begyn 

To gete kyꝛſte her kauoure yes truſte me well. 

¶ And what comkoꝛt wolde (he gyue you therin 

¶ By my fepth no grete com koꝛt to tell 

Saue that (he abideth to haue poure countell 

Foꝛ as ſhe ſeyth ſhe will no thing. 

In ſuche mater to do with oute pour counfelly, 9 
ay 


— ee. 


Noꝛ other wyſe than pe ſhalbe contente 
And theruppon it was my mynde a deſire 
To ſpeke with you of her foꝛ the Caine intent 
pout gode will in this behalfe to requyte 
Foꝛ 4 am ſo bꝛent in loues fp2e 
That no thing may my payne aflake 
withoute that pe wyll my cure vndertake 
b.i. 


tul. Sy I ſhail do pou the comfoat that I can 
ve As far as (he wil be aduifed by me 

f Hou be it certeynly J am not the man 
That wyll take from her the liberte 
Ok her obne choice that may not be 
But when J ſpeke with her F Chall her aduyſe 

~az To loue pou befoꝛe other in all godely wyſe 

corn. ¶ I thanke pou ſyr with all myn harte 
And J pꝛay pou do it with oute delay 

ful. ¶ As ſone as J (hall fro pou departe 

f Ff wyll her mynde therin alap 

ul. Foꝛ I ſhall think that euery howre is twayne 

Till I map ſpeke with pou agayne 

coz. ¶ Mow a wile felow that had lumwhat a bꝛayne 
And of fuche thingis had experience 
Such one wolde J with me retayne 
To gpue me counteile and aſſiſtence 
ff 02 I will ſpare no coſt oꝛ expence 
Mon pet retuſe ony laboure oꝛ payne 
The loue of fayre lucres therby to attaync 

So many gode felowes as byn in this hall 
And is ther non ſyꝛs among vou all 
That wyll enterprife this gere 
Some of you can do it if pe luſt 
But it ye wyl not than J musk 
Go ſeche à man ellis where 
Et exeat. ¶ Deinde loquit 
B Now haue I (pied a mete office foꝛ me 
Foꝛ J wyl be of counſell aud I may 
with yonder man 
2 a let be 
e gad thou wyll diſtroy all the play 


8 


Sn Ge 


& e 


¶ Diſtroy the play quod a nap nay 

The play began neuer till now 

J wyll be doyng J make god auow 

Foꝛ there is not in this hondꝛed myle 

A feter bawde than J am one 

¶ And what ſhall I do in the meane while 
@ Warp thou ſhalt com in anone 

Be another pageant 


0 
¶ ve by ſaynt Johan 
¶ what J neuer vſide ſuche thing befoze 
¶ But folow inp counſell and do no moze 
Loke that thou abide here till 
And J hall vndertake fo2 to fulkyll 
All his mynde with outen delay 
And whether F do ſo ye oꝛ nap 
At the lett well dare J undertake 
The mariage vtterly to mare oꝛ to make 
If he and A make any bargeyn 
So that J muſt gyue hym attendaunce 
when thou ſeeſt me com in ageyn 
Stond eupn ſtill and kepe thy contenaunce 
Foꝛ when Gayus klampneus compth in 
Than muſt thou thy pageaunt begyn 
¶ Shall onp profyt grow therby 
¶ Hold thy pece ſpeke not ſo hye 
Leſte any man ok this cõpany 
Rnow oure purpoſe openly 
And bꝛeke all oure daunce 
FJoꝛ J allure the feithfully 
Ik thou quyte the as well as 7 
This gere (hall vs both auaunce 
b. ii. 


¶ Exeat. 

(Map then let me alone hardelp 
yk ony aduauntage honge therby 
I can my ſelke there to apply 
By helpe of gode countell 
This kelowe and J be mayſterles 
And lyue moſte parte in ydelnes 
There koꝛe ſome maner of beſenes 
wolde become vs both well 
At the leſte wyſe. it is mery beynge 
with men in tyme of woynge 
Foꝛ all that whyle they do no thynge 
But daunce and make reuell 
Synge and laugh with greate ſhoutynge 
Fyll in wyne with reuell routynge 
I tro we it be a iopfull thinge 
Amonge uche kolke to Dwell 

¶ Intrat fulgeus lucres à ancilla ¢ dicat. 
Dolighter Lucres pe knowe well pnough 
what ſtudy and care J haue foꝛ poure ꝓmocpon 
And what fatherly loue F bere to pou 
So that J thynke in myne opynpon 
It were tyme loſte and waſtkull occupacpon 
This matter to reherle oꝛ tell vou ony moze 
Syth ve it beſt knowe / as J ſayde befoze 


¶ But the ſpecyall cauſe that J ſpeke foꝛe 

Is touchynge youre mariage as pe knowe well 
Many kolke there be that deſyꝛeth ſoꝛe 

Ind laboureth in that behalue with pou to mell 
pe knowe what is foꝛ pou pe nede no counfell 
Howe ſo be it. yt pe lyſte my counſeyle to requpꝛe 
F (yall be glad to latylfye there in poure defpze 


lu. ¶ Tꝛought it is fader that J am bounde 


kul. 


lu. 


As moche vnto yau as ony chylde may be 
NUnto the lader lyuynge on the grounde 
And where it pleaſeth you to gyue vnto me 
Myne owne fre chople and my lyberte 

It is the thynge that pleaſeth me well 
Sith F Chall haue there in youre countell 


¶ And no we accoꝛdynge to this ſame purpoſe 
what thynke ve beſt fo2 me to do 

pe knowe ryghte well as J (uppofe 

That many folke Doth me greatly woo 
Amonge the whiche there be ſpecyally twoo 

In who me as J trowe and lo do ye 

The chopce of this matter muſt lynally be 


¶ In that poynt your mynde 4 myne dothe agre 
But pet ryght now er J came here 

£02 publius coꝛnelius ve aduyſed me 

As touchinge ye wolde haue me only reſte there 
yk that be youre mynde J (hall gladly fozbere 
All other and only to hym affente 

To haue me in wedlocke at his cõmaũdemente 


Maye doughter lucres not fo I mente 

Foꝛ though J dyde ſomwhat to hym enclyne 

pet foꝛ all that it is not myne entente 

That pe ſhulde ſo there vpon vtterly diffvne 

But loke whom pe wyll on godys bleſſing d mpne 
Foꝛ truſte pe me verelp it is all one to me 

whether gayus klampneus wedde pou oꝛ els he 


¶ Than (pth N haue ſo greate lyberte 


And ſo gode choyce J were bnkoꝛtunable 
And alſo to vnwyſe pf J wolde not (ee i 


ful. 


lu. 
ful. 


lu. 
ful. 


lu. 


lu. 


atts 


lu. 
an. 


lu. 


That F had hym whiche is moſte honozable 
wherkoꝛe map it lyke you to be agreable 

That I may haue reſpyte to make inquiſycyon 
whiche of this two men is better of condicyon 

¶ I holde me cõtent that ſhall be well done 

It may be reſpyted foꝛ a day oꝛ twayne 

But in the meane tyme ble this pꝛouyſyon 


Se that pe indyfferently them both entertapne 


Tyll that youre mynde be fett at a certayne 
where pe Chall reſt now / can ye do fo 
¶ At the leſte my gode wyll (hall J put there to 
¶ Than (pth J haue byſynes at whome foꝛ to do 
I wyll go thether warde as faſt as J map 
Is it poure pleaſure that I (hall with vou go 
q Map J had leuer that ye went pour wap 
Aboute this matter. 
¶ Et ereat. 

¶ well god be with vou than 
Ichall do there in the beſt that J can 

¶ Et tet aliqua pauſatiãe dicat lucres 
CF wyll not dyſclaunder noꝛ blame no man 
But neuer theleſſe by that J here ſaye 
goꝛe maydens be dillayued now and than 
So greate dyſſemblynge now a dape 
There is conuaped vnder woꝛdes gaye 
That it 

Ancilla. 


¶ Veace lady ye muſt koꝛbere 
Se ve not who cometh here 

@ who is it wot ve ere 

¶ It is gayus flamymeus parde 
He that wolde your hulbonde be 
¶ Ey gode loꝛde how wyſte he 
Foꝛ to fynde me here 


¶ Intrat gayus lam. 


nut Cyes gode lady where ſo euer ye go 


lu. 
Sa. 


lu. 


Ga. 


He that lyſteth to do his dylygence 
In ſuche manere wyſe as J haue do 
At the laſte he may come to youre pꝛeſence 
oꝛ who ſo euer oweth obedyence 

into louc/ he hath greate nede 

To attendaunce (fhe wyll ſpede 

¶ Sp ve be welcome what is your mynde 
¶ why fayre lucres is that pour gyſe 

To be lo ſtraunge and fo vnkynde 

To hym that owith you louyng ſeruyce 

I trow J haue tolde pou twyſe oꝛ thꝛiſe 
That myn delpre is to mary with pou 

haue pe not herde this matter oꝛ now 

yes in berap trouth J haue herde you fap 

Att dyuerſe tymes that ye bare me affeccpon 
To ſuche an intent J fap not nap 

¶ what nede pe than to aſte the queſtion 
what J wolde with you at this ſeaſon 
Me ſemyth pe ſholde therin doubt no moꝛe 
Sith pe know well myn erande bekoꝛe 
I wys your ſtrangnes greueth me foꝛe 
But not withſtonding now wyll A (cece 
And at this tyme J wyll chide no moꝛe 
Left I geue pou cauſe of heurnes 
I cam hyder onelp for poure fake donbtles 
To glade pou t pleaſe pou in all that I can 
And not foꝛ to chyde with pou as J began 
Jo thynke it in pour mynde J am the man 
That wol de pou pleaſe in all that J may 
And to that purpoſe J wyll do what J can 
Though ye foꝛbyde it and lay therin nap 
In that poynt onely J wyll pou diſobay 


lu. 


ga. 


lu. 


My hart ſhall ve haue in all godely wiſe 
whether pe me take oꝛ vtterly diſpiſe 

¶ And to fay that F will folot the giſe 
Ol wanton louers now adap 

whiche Doth many klatering woꝛdis deuile 
with gpftis ok tingis and bꝛoches gay 
Theyr lẽmans hartis foꝛ to betray 

pe muſt haue me therin exculid 

Foꝛit is the thing that J neuer vſid 

¶ Therkoꝛe F will be ſhoꝛt and plapne 
And J pay vou hartely feyꝛe lucres 
That ye wyll be lo to me agayne 

ve know well IJ haue made labour and beſyneg 
And alſo deſyrid pou by woꝛdis expꝛeſſe 
That pe wold vouche ſaue in pour harte 
To be my twife till deth vs departe 

¶ Lo this is the mater that J come fore 
To knob therin pour mynde and plefoure 
v hether ye lett by me ony ſtoꝛe 

To thefiect of my leyd delire 

And nothing ellis J wyll require 

But that J may haue a playne ye oꝛ nap 
whereto J may truſt with oute delay 

¶ e thinketh that by that p ye ſay 

pe foꝛce not what myne anſwere be. 

¶ A wyll ye take it that way 

My lady J ment not fo poe 
Thaffirmatyfe were moſt lefe to me 

Foꝛ as pe your ſelf kno with beſt 

That was and is my pꝛincipall requeſt 
But ye map fap I am a homely 1 

On a gentilman fo haſtely to cal 

¶ Nap nay (yr that gupſe is bet 


ve can not diſpleyſe me with all 
And accoꝛdyng to pour delire J Call 
Euyn as ſone as J godely may 
Anl were you therin with oute delay 
953 be it / it can not be done ſtrait way 
I myght gett a realme therby 
Fyſt wyll I my faders mynde allay 
whether he wyll ther vnto applye 
Foz ik he like pou aſwell as | 
ga. @pourmpnde in this behalk ſhalbe fone ealid 
Ik my ſeyd fader can be content c pleyſid 
—9 Gramercy myne owne lwete lucre »—___ 
Ok pou deſire can I no moꝛe at all C 
Saue onelp that pe do pour beſynes | 
wpon poure fader befilp to call 
So that what (o euer (hal be fall 
with in few days J map berilp know 
To what effect this mater ſhal grow 
lu. C ye ſhall know by to moꝛow nyght 
| what my fader wyll ſey thetto 
gad. Than (hall pe make mpne harte full light 
| k it pleple pou ſo to do 
lu. ¶ ves doubt pe not it (hal be ſo ö 
| And fo2 that caule J wyll euen now dente 
Ga. ¶ Nov fare well than myne obne ſwete harte 
¶ Et ereat Lucres.deinde J. accedẽs 
ad Gayum kla.æ dicat ct ſic. 
Q (Dp ye ſeme a man of grete honoure 
And that moueth me to be ſo bolde 
I rede pou aducture not ouer moche laboure 
wpon this woman leſte ye take colde 
A tell you the mater is bought and (olde 
withoute pe take the better hede 


Foꝛ all tl ece feyꝛe wordeg ye ſhall not (pede 
Ga. ¶ Thynkeſt thou fo in very Dede 
1 @ ye lo helpe me god and J ſhall tell pou why 
Syr ryght now this way as Jyede 
This gentylwoman cam euen by 
And a kreſſhe galant in her company 
As god wolde nere them F ſtalked 
And herde euery woꝛde that they talked 
Sa. ¶ Vnt ſpake they ony woꝛde of me 
ay nap pe were no thinge in her thoughte 
They were as belp as they myghte be 
Aboute ſuche a matter as ve haue wzoughte 
And by god that me dere boughte 
Loke what anſwer that ye now haue 
Suen the fame woꝛdes to hym (he gaue 
I wys (pr J am but a poze knaue 
But yet J wolde take on me a greate payne 
youre honeſte in this matter to laue 
Though it be vnto me no pꝛokyte noꝛ gayne 
But there fore I ſpeke + haue dyldayne 
To ſe in a woman of ſuche dyſſemblaunce 
To warde a gentylman of poure ſubſtanuce 
Ga. ¶ why halt thou of me ony acquentaunce 
A xc lyꝛ and fome tyme ye knewe me 
Though it be now oute of youre remembꝛaunce 
Ga. ¶ By my fayth it map well be 
But neuer the leſle J thanke'the 
Me lemeth thou woldeſt that all were well 
Betwyxte me and ponder fap2e damelell 
J C ve by god J wolde fyghte in the quarell 
Rather than ye ſholde leſe youre entete 
Sa. J pꝛaye the felowe where doſte thou dwell 
1 Mp mp fapth Jam now at myn owne comaddemee 


Jacke a mayſter and that J me repente 
To ſerue you and pleaſe J wolde be kayne 
yk it myght lyke pou me to retayne 

And of one thynge J wyll a certayne 
doubte not I (hall do you better fede 
To warde this maryage than ſome other twayne 
And y J do not let me be Dede 

¶ well than wyll J do by thy rede 

And in my ſeruyce thou (halt be 

yk thou cant fpnde me any lurete 

¶ ves I can hauc ſureties plente 

Foꝛ my trouth with in this place 
Here is a gentilman that wolde truſte me 
Foꝛ aſmoche gode as he hale 

C ve and that is but litle ꝑcaſe 

¶ By my fapth go where he (hall 

It is as honeſt à man as onp in the reall 
I haue no moze acquepntaunce with in this hall 
Ik J wolde onp frends aſſay 

By god here is one beſt of all 

I trow he wyll not fay me nay 

Foꝛ he hath knowen me many adap 

Sp2 wyll not ye foꝛ my trouth wndertake 
¶ Byes foꝛ god els J wolde J were bake 
Spꝛ my mater wyll ye beleue me 
dare truſt hym fo2 all that J can make 
yl pe fynde me ſuſticient ſurete 

As foꝛ his trouth doubt not pe 

I neuer coude by hym any thing efpte 
But that he was as true a man as J 

He and J dwelled many a feyre dap 

In one (cole and pet J wot well 

From thens he bare neuer away 


The worth of an halfe peny that J can tell 
Therkoꝛe he is able with pou to Dwell 
As foꝛ his trought that dare J well ſape 
Haͤrdely truſte hym there in pe mape 
Upon poure woꝛde J (hall affape 

¶ And ſyꝛ after thi gode deſeruynge 
So (hall I thy wagys pap 

But now to remembꝛe one thinge 

Me thought thou lay diſt at the begynnynge 
That lucres fauoꝛeth better than me 

A nother louer what man is he 

¶ Coꝛuelius J wene his name ſholde be 
CA then J knowe him well by the rode 
There is not with in all this cyte 

A man boꝛne of a better blode 

But yet lucres hath a wytt ſo gode 
That as I thynke (he wyll bekoꝛe (ee 
whether his cõdicpons therto agree 
And if they do not fare well he 

But therin J haue nought a do 

He (hall not be diſpꝛayſid foꝛ me 

with oute that J be cöpellid therto 

I can not let hym koꝛ to woo 

A woman beyng at her owne liberte 
Foꝛ why it is as fre fo2 bpm as fo2 me 

IJ wpll koꝛzbere neuer the moze 

Tyll Iknowe what (hall be the ende 
Go thy waye vnto lucres therfo2e 

And hertly me vnto her recõmende 
Pꝛayng her that ſhe wyll me lende 

A redy anſwere of that thing 

That Che ꝓmiſed me at her departing 


2 (Mary J ſgall without auy tarping 


A knowe mpne erand well Fnots 
pe ſhall ſe me apoynte a metynge 
where ſhe agapne (hall ſpeke wyth pou 
Ga. ¶ Than (hall I thy wyt alowe 
pk thou can bꝛynge that aboute 
A C xes that I ſhall do haue pe no doubte 
¶ Et exeat gapus flan. et dicat B. 
5 No by my trought F wolde not haue thoughte Re 
That thou haddeſt bene halle ſo wyſe 
Foꝛ thou hak this matter featly wꝛought 
And conuaped tt poynt deuyſe 
To bꝛynge thy lelke to ſuche a ſeruyce 
I e well thou hak ſome wytt in thy hede 
¶ ve a lytell but batt thou (pede 
¶ Euen lyke wyſe haue thou no dꝛede 
haue goten a maiſter foꝛ my pꝛowe 
IJ neuer thꝛyuede as I (hall do now 
No whiche way 
I hall tell the how 
It is no mayſtty to thapue at all 
Under a man that is fo liberal 
Ther is now late vnto hym kall 
So grete goodis by inheritaunce 
That he wote neuer what to do with all 
But laſcheth it forth daily elcaunce 
That he had no daply remẽbꝛaunce 
Oktyme to come noꝛ makpth no ſtoꝛe 
Foꝛ he carith not whiche ende goth before 
And by oure lady I tõmende hym the moze 
why ſholde he thole goodis (pare 
Sith he laboꝛede neuer therkoꝛe 
Aap and euery man ſholde care 
Foꝛ goodis t lpecially ſuche as are 


Be 


ez 


C. i. 


8 m e 


a 
B 


Ol gentil blode it were grete ſyn 

FJoꝛ all liberalite in them ſholde begyn 
Many a poꝛe man therby doth wyn 

The chef ſubſtauns of his lpuing 

My maiſter were woꝛthy to be a kyng 

Foꝛ liberall expenſis in all his deling 

I trow thou ſhalt ſe bpm com pn 

Lykea rutter ſomwhat accoꝛding 

In all apparell to hym belongyng 

How moche payeth he as ye ſuppoſe 

Foꝛ the makyng ok a pe pre of his hole 

¶ Mary . xii.d. were a feyre thing 

¶ ve by the rode. xx. tymes tolde 

That is euyn.xx.ſhelyngt᷑ fo2 the makyng 
¶ It can not be ſo with oute a man wolde 
Make them all with lylke and golde 

¶ Nap by yes non erthly thing 

But eupn the bare cloth and the lynynge 
Saue onelp that ther is in cuttinge 

A new maner of kaſcyon now a day 

Be caule they ſholde be fom what ſtraunge 
They moſte be ſtrypide all this way 

with ſmall fippes of coloures gay 

A cod pece be foꝛe all moft thus large 

And therin reſtith the gretiſt charge 

To ſpeke of goons and that gode chaunge 
Ol them he hath ſtoꝛe and plenty 

And that the faſcyons be new and ſtraunge 
Foꝛ non of them paſlith the mydde thy 

And pet he puttpth in a gown comunelp 
How mary bꝛode pardis as pe geſſe 

¶ Mary .ii.oꝛ.iii. 

¶ Nap.viti.and no leſſe 


(vy my trouth that is lyke a lye 
(ut it is as true as pe ſtond there 
And F (hall tell you a reſon why 
All that doth that faſcyon were 
They haue thingis behynd redy to fipe 
And a lleue that wolde couer all the body 
Than. xl.playtis as I think in my mynde 
They haue before and as many behynde 
4 N well as foꝛ gentilmen it is full kynde 
To haue theyr pleſyrs that may well pape 
B Ce but than this grugeth my mynde 
A gentyl man (hall not were it a daye 
But euery man wyll hym lelf a raye 
Mf the lame laſcyon euen by and by 
On the moꝛow alter 
A Map that J defp 
But then J maruell gretly why 
vou are not garnyſſhyd after that gyſe 
B ( There is neuer a knaue in the houle laue E 
But his gowne is made in the lame wple 
And koꝛ by cauſe J am new come to leruyce 
J mutt foꝛ a whyle be content 
To were ſtylle myn olde garment 
x Nye but a byde to what intent 
Doth thy mayſter take in honde 
To make hym ſo moche coſtely rayment 
¶ Mary that is eſy to vnderſtonde 
All is done foꝛ lucres fake 
To wed de her he doth his rekenynge make 
¶ I put cale that (he do hym fo2 ſake 
So that (he be my mayſters wyl 
33 ¶ By my fayth then J (ay it wyll make 
Many a man to lole his ly f 
t. ii. 


Bi 


2 8 


2 8 wat 


2 


Foꝛ theroł wyll ryſe a gret ſtryk 

Mary I pray god ſend vs pes 

¶ Ve my fapth it wyll be no lelle 

yk my maſter haue not lucres 

¶ I can no moze god (ped the ryght 

Lo thes folke wyll ſtryue ⁊ fyght 

Foꝛ this womans fake 
And whan thay haue done ther vttyr meft 
J wene veryly he Chall (ped beſt 

That mutt her fo2 ake 

Me is well at eale that hath a wyk 

pet he is better that hath none be my lyl 
But he p hath a good wyk e wyll foꝛ (ake her 
I pꝛap god the deuyll take her 

¶ Now in gode fapth thou art a made knaue 
I ſe well thou haſt wedyd a ſhzew 
The deupll J haue 

Nap J haue marrped ii.oꝛ iii. 

Syth the tyme that J her loft 

¶ And kepiſt thou them all ſtyll with the 
¶ Nay that wolde not quyte the coſt 

To lap the trouth thay fond me moſt 

¶ Than thay haue ſome maner gettynge 
By ſome occupacione haue thay 

¶ Sp thay haue a pꝛety waye 

The chef meane of ther leuynge 

Is lechery / lech crafte J wolde fap 

where in thay laboꝛe nyght a day 

And eale many a man in lome caſe 

¶ And where do thay dwell 

Att the cõmen place 

There thou mayſt them all fpnde 
Goddis mercy where is my mynde 


W AB & 


By god J Mall be ſhent 
I (hold haue gone to lucres 
A botote my mapſters beſynes 
Thether warde J was bent 
¶ By my fapth my mayſter is there 
All the whple that thou arte here 
As N veryly ſuppoſe 
¶ I ſhꝛow thy face by ſaynt mary 
with thy chaterynge thou doyſt me tarp 
Euyn foꝛ the fame purpofe 
¶ I (ay whan thou haſt with lucres ſpoken 
IJ pꝛap the wyll thou delyuer me a token 
In myne name to her mayde 
¶ Map ve muſte be ware of that gere 
Foꝛ J haue bene afore pou there 
¶ why batt thou hyr aſlayed 
ye ye that matyr ys (ped full 
N map haue her and the wull 
That comfort (he me gaue 
¶ And bak thou no noder comfozt att all 
Itruſte to god than yet J (hall 
All this matyr ſaue 
Hob be it I wyll not the matter begyn 
withoute F were (ure (he were a virgyn 
By my trought this comfort Chall J putt the in 
cam neuer on her backe in the way of (pane 
¶ A voyde the place A. 
¶ Than all is well a fyne 
yk the matter be in that caſfe 
I truſt that with in a lytyll ſpace 
That wenche {hall be myne 
J tell pou it is a trull of truſt 
All to quenche a mannes thꝛuſt 
c. iii. 


an. 


Bettpr then ony wyne 

It is a lytyll pꝛaty moucet 

And her voyce is as doucett 

And as lwete as reſty poꝛke 

a face is ſome what bꝛowne and pelow 

ut fo2 all that fhe hath no lelow 

In ſyngynge hens to poꝛke 

But the woꝛſt that greuyth me 

She hath no layſer noꝛ lpbarte 

Foꝛ an howre oꝛ twapne 

To be ote of her mayſtres ſyght 

I wachyde fo2 her this odyr nyght 

But all was in vayne 

Wow be it I thinke that at the latte 
¶ Come in the mapdyn 

I ſhall come with in two ſtonys caſte 

Ok her J afke no moze 

And pt I Dolo then my mate 

Shall haue no luſt ther in to pꝛate 

As he dyde be foze 

Cockis body here ſhe is 

Nob wellcome by heuyn blys 

The laſt that was in my thought 

¶ Tuſſhe J pꝛap vou let me go 

IJhaue ſome what els to do 

Foꝛ this howre J haue ſoughte 

A man that J Molde (peke with all 

Fro my mapſtres 

¶ what do pou hym call 

> eda anti apus o2 his man 

¶ Am not Fhe that pe wolde haue 

¶ No no J wolde haue an other knaue 

¶ why am 7] a knaue than 


an. ¶ Nay J ſapd not ſo perde 

But where trow pe theſe kolkis be 
5 I can not veryly fap 

His man went euyn now frome me 
And J maruell gretly that pe 
met hym not by the way 
Foꝛ he is gone to ſpeke with lucres 
Frõ his mayſtyr 

an. ¶ what with my mayſtres nap 

Bf xe ſo J harde hym fap 

an. C Goddis meccp and J was ſent 
Euyn hedyr foꝛ the fame intent 
To bꝛynge an anlwere 
Ok the erande that he is gone foꝛe 
where foꝛe now ther is no moꝛe 
But J muſt go ſeche hym there 

B ( Na tary here a whyle gentyll Fone 
Foꝛ he wyll come hedyr a none 

an. ¶ Carp why ſhold J fo 

B f Mary to laugh aud talke with me 

an. ¶ May lobe where ſuche gyglottis be 
Foꝛ J am none of them J warne the 
That vſe ſo to do 

3 ( mene no thinge but good ⁊ honelt 
And foꝛ your wele and you lyſt 
To affent ther vnto 

an. ¶foꝛ my wele q a / how may that be 
That is a thinge that I can not ſe 

B bl this lo is myne entent 
I mene yk ye wolde be content 
Oꝛ onr wyſe agree 
Foꝛ to be my ſacrament of penaunce 
Ey god gyue it a very erp vengeaunce 


an. 


Ok wedlocke J wolde haue ſayde 

¶ Tulh by ſeynt Jame ye do but mocke 
To ſpeke to me ot ony wedlocke 

And J ſo ponge a mayde 

¶ why are ye a mayde 

¶ ve ellis I were to blame 

¶ where by wote ye 

¶ Mary foꝛ J ame 

¶ A that is a thinge 

Here ye not ſyꝛs what the ſayth 

So relonable a caufe there to ſhe layth 
¶ A ſtraw foꝛ pour mockynge 

auc ye none to mocke but me 

¶ Mocke nap fo mote I the 

mene euyne gode erneſt 

Geue me pout honde and pou (hall ſe 
what J wyll ꝓmes pou 

¶ That way were not beſt for my prow 
wold ye hondekaſt me fozth with all 
May be the roode Fpatt pe (hall 
Chepe oꝛ euer pou by 

we muſt kyꝛſt ol the price a gre 

Foꝛ who ſome euer ſhall haue me 

J ꝓmes vou faytkully 

He (hall me fpatt aſſure 
DE..er.Pt.londe in ioyncture 

¶ why are ye ſo coſtely 

Nay nay then ye be not fo2 me 

Als pꝛety a woman as ye be 

I can ſome tyme by 

Foꝛ moche les wagis and hyre 

As foꝛ the ſeaſon that J defpre 

To haue hyr in company 


There fore pFpe can kynde in poure harte 
To leue all ſucche Joynter aparte 
And take me as Jam 
I hall do pou as greate a pleaſuze 
And therto J wyll loue pou oute of meſuze 
Els J were to blame 
¶ ve but oure houlholde ſhall be full [mall 
But yt᷑ we haue ſome what els with all 
Mure charges foꝛ to bere 
¶ ve god ſende vs merp wether 
J map not wed and thꝛpue all to gether 
loke not foꝛ that gere 
(hall tell po ua maruelous caſe 
knewe twayne marrped in a place 
wellyng to gether in one houle 
And J am Cure they were not woꝛth a louſe 
At the begynnynge 
And 02 euer the pere were do 
They were woꝛth an hondꝛed oꝛ two 
¶ That was a maruelous thynge 
But pet I can tell the a gretter maruaple 
And J knewe the plons ryght well 
Syr J knewe two certapne: 
That when they were wedded thep had in ſtoꝛe 
€ycarce halfe a bed and no moꝛe 
That was worth an hawe 
And within a pere oꝛ twapne 
They had ſo greate encreaſe and gapne 
That at the laſt they were fapne 
To ſhoue theyꝛe hedes in the ſtrawe 
¶ Tuſſhe pe do but mocke and raple 
And J pꝛomeſſe pou withouten faple 
pl pe lyſte to haue me 


‘Ff woot where is an. c.ſ.in ſtoꝛe 
And J ow neuer a grot ther koꝛe 
an. ¶ All that may be 
I beleue hyt euyn as ye ſay 
But pe tarp me here all day 
A pꝛap vou let me goo 
And foꝛ my mariage that is a thing 
In the whyche J purpole to geue a ſparyng 
Foꝛ a yere oꝛ two 
B ¶ A yere oꝛ.ii.qꝙ; a.nay god foꝛbede 
Fi Wis byt had be tyme foze you to wedde 
vii.oꝛ.vbiii.yere a goo 
And ye wyſt how merp a lyle 
Hyt is to be a wedded wyk 
ve wold chaunge that mynde 
an. ¶ ve ſo hyt is as J vnderſtonde 
Ika woman haue a gode hulbonde 
But that ys herd to fpnde 
Many a man blampth his wyk parde 
And ſhe is moꝛe to blame than he 
B ¶ As true as the goſpell now fap pe 
But now tell me one thing 
Shall J haue none other anlwere but this 
Ok mp delyꝛe 
an. ¶ No ſyꝛ I wys 
Not at this metyng 
B ¶wyll ye now nede be a goo than 
an. Take pour leue honeſtly 
¶ Et conabitur eam ofculart 
an. Se the man 
Let me a lone with Soꝛowe 
B Tie fo be hyt but one woꝛde 
wyll kys the 02 thou goo 
an. ¶ The deupllis toʒde 


The man is madde J trowe 


G — So madde Jam that nedis J muk 


As in this poynt haue my luſt 

Ho fo euer J doo 

Marde pe may do me that requeſt <p 
S02 why it is but good and honeſt 


Et ofculabit. Intrat A. 
¶ Mob a felychip I the be ſeche 
Set euen ſuche a patche one my baeche 
¶ A wyld fepre therone 
¶ Goddis mercy this is he 
That J haue fought ſo 
¶ haue ye fought me 
¶ ve that haue J do 
This gentylman can wpties bere 
That ail this owre J haue ſtonde here 
Sechyng euen koꝛ pou 
¶ Haue pe two be to geder ſo longe 
¶ ve why not 
¶ Mary then all is waong 
ere me ſo now 
¶ Map nap here be to manp Wyptnes 
Foꝛ to make ony ſyche beſpnes 
Ag thou weneſt hardely 
¶ͥ why what is the mannes thought 
Suppoſe ye that J wolde be nowght 
yf no man were by 
¶ Napy koꝛ god p ment not ſo 
But J wolde no man ſholde haue to do 
with pou but onely FF 
¶ Haue to do ꝙ a. what call pe that. 
ppt ſowndyth to a thing J wote ner what 


Senge 10 


— 
ely 


Ey godes mercy 

Iſe well a man muſt be warre 
Ho he ſpekyth ther as pe ar 

pe take it ſo ſtraungely 

Map J mene nothyug but well 
Foꝛ by my wyll no man Chall Dele 
with pou in wap ol marpage 
But onely J this wyſe ment 


an. ¶ ve but though it were youre entent 


— 


pet pe do but rage 
To vſe ſuche woꝛdes vn to me 
Foꝛ J am yet at my lyberte 


A Cpethat J know well 


> 


faa 


But neuer the leſſe ſythen F be gafie 
To loue poulonge be foze this man 
FJ haue veray greate meruell 

That euer pe wolde his mynde fulfpli 
To ſtonde and talke with hym ſtyll 
So long as pe haue do 


Bs 175 fore me ꝙ a nap J make a bowe 


meuyde this matter long by foze pou 
How ſey ye ther to 


an. ¶ I wyll no thinge in the matter fap 


Left I cauſe you to make a fray 
Foꝛ there of J wolde be lothe 


B By cobb body butt who ſo euer it be 


That weddythe her by ſydes me 
I (hall make hym wꝛothe N 


B pe but he that is ſo haſty at euery woꝛde 


Foꝛ amedſyn muſt ete his wyues torde 


an. C holde pour tongis there 4 Cap 


Foꝛ and pe make this warke fog me 
ye ſhall bothe dyſpoyntyd be 


an. 


an. 


As fare as I map 
¶ Vy my trouthe but marke me well 
pk euer thou with this man dwell 
As a woman with here make 
Thou (halt fynde hym the moſt froward man 
That euer thou ſawiſte (pthe the woꝛlde bp gan 
Foz J dare vndertake 
That.xl.tymes on a day 
with oute ony cauſe he wyll the afray 
And bete the bake and ſyde 
¶ He (hall not nede ſo to do 
Foꝛ he (hall haue. xl.cauſes &.xl.too 
yl IJ with hym a byde 
Mary that ps a remedy accoꝛdynge 
But can tell the an other thynge 
And it is no lye f 
Tho w matt well be hys weddyd turf 
But he wyll neuer loue the in his lyk 
¶ vct J know a remedy 
Chobſo. 
¶ Mary J wyll loue hym as lytyll a gayne 
Foꝛ euery ſhꝛewed turne he (hall haue twayne 
And he were my bꝛother 
¶ I wys Fone he ſpekythe but of males 
There ys no man hens to cales 
who ſo euer be the tother 
That can hym ſelle better applye 
To pleaſe a woman better then F 
¶ ve ſo J harde you ſay 
But pet be ye neuer ſo wꝛothe 
There vs neuer one of you bothe 
Foꝛ all youre woꝛdes gay 


That ſhalbe aſſured of me 


280 wow 


& 


an. 


Cpl I map fyꝛſt here and ſe 

what pe bothe cau do 

And he that can do moſt mayſtry 

Be it in cokery oꝛ in paſtry 

In fettis of warre oꝛ dedys of cheualrp 

with bpm wyll J go 

¶ By my trowthe that lykythe me well 

Ther is no mapſtry that a man can telt 

But J am mete there to 

where fo2 that wagere ] dare well undertake 
Lett me ſe wylt thou go coyt fo2 thy ladis lake 
D2 what thyng Chall we do 

¶ May yt thou wylt her with mayſtry wynne 
with boyes game thou mayſt not be gyn 
That is not her intent 

¶ what is beſt that we do than 

¶ Mary canſt thou ſyng 

ve that J can 

As well as ony man in kent 

¶ what maner of long (hall it be 

¶ what fo euer thou wylt chofe the 

IJ holde me well content 

And yf I mete the not at the cloſe 

Hardely let me the wager loſe 

By her owne iugement 

Go to now wyll ye fet in 

(Map be the rode ye fhall begyn 

By ſeynt Jame J aſſent 

A byde Jone ye can gode ſkyll 

And if ye wolde the Cong fulkyll 

with a thyꝛd parte 

It wolde do ryght welt in my mynde 

¶ Synge on hardely. and A wyll not be behynde 


2 85 


an. 
2 


I pꝛap the with all my bert. 

¶ Et tunc cantabunt. 
¶ I am lo whoꝛſe it wyll not be 
¶ Hoꝛſe ꝙ a.nay ſo mot I the 
That was not the thynge 
And a man ſholde the trowth (ape 
ye loſt a crochet oꝛ.ii.by the waye 
To mne vnderſtondynge 
¶ why was J a mynyme bekoꝛe 
¶ ve be the rode that pe were c moꝛe 
¶ Then were ye a mynyme behynde 
Let mele pet (yng a gayne 
And marke whyche of bs twapne 
Pleſyth beſt pour mynde 
¶ May nap pe hall this matter try 
By ſome other maner of maſtry 
Than by your ſyngynge 
¶ Let hym allap what maſtry he wull 
¶ Mary and mp bely were not fo full 
I wolde weettell with bpm a fayꝛze pull 
That were a game accoꝛdynge 
Foꝛ ſuche balpaunt men as we be 
CF tꝛew thyn hert and thou {pare me 

¶ Et deinde luctabuntuc. 
¶ May by my fayth that was no fall 
¶ A than J le well ye be parcpall. 
whan ye iuge fo 
well A Chall do moze foꝛ pour loue 
Euyn here J caſt to hym my gloue 
Oz euer Jhens goo | 
On the condycion that in the playne fylde 
A (hall mete hym with ſpere and ſhelde 
My lyl theron to Jeoparde 

D. ii. 


Be & 


an. 


Let me ſe and he dare take hyt 

¶ Tiic ꝓiiciet cirothecam. 
ves hardely J wyll not fozſake byt 
IJ am not fuche a coward 
But J dare mete the at all aſſays 
whan (yall byt be da 
¶ Enyn ſtreyght ways 
withoute furthere delay 
And I ſhꝛewe his hert that feris 
Cyther with cronall oꝛ ſharpe (petis 
This bargyn to aſſay 
¶ And J beſhꝛewe hym for me 
But a byde nov let me fe 
where (hall J haue a ho2s 
@ Map we (hall nede no hoꝛſe ne mute 
But let vs Juſt at farte pꝛyke in cule 
¶ Be leynt iame no foꝛſe 
Euyn ſo be it / but where is oure gere 
¶ By mp kayth all thing is redy 
That belongethe ther to 
Lomforthe pe klowre of the frying pane 
Helpe ye to arap vs as well as pecan 
And hob ſo euer pe do 
Se that ye iuge indifferently 
whiche of vs twayne hathe the maſtry 
¶ ves hardely that J (hall 
I Chall iuge after mp mynde 
But (ce pe hold faft behynd 
Leſt ye troble bs in all 
¶ Tulhe that is the left care ot. xb. 
And yk J do not on my game be pt (ene 
Go to / bynd me kyrſt hard ely 
So lo now geue mem ſpere 
And put me aſtaffe thoꝛow here 


an. 


ait. 


Than am J all redy 
¶ A byde who e to harnys me 
¶ That (hall J do fo mott J the 
with a ryght gode wyll 
@ Soft and fayre myne arme is ſoꝛe 
pe may not bynd me ſtrayt ther fore 
¶ Map no moze J wyll 
J wyll not hurte the foꝛ.xx.pounde 
Come of now {pt downe on the grounde 
Euyn vpon thy tayle 
¶ Ey gode loꝛde whan wyll ye haue do 
¶ Now all is redy hardelp go to 
Bydde hym baple baple 
¶ Fall to pꝛayer ſyꝛs it is nede 
As many of pou as wolde me gode {pede 
Foꝛ this gere ſtondyth me vppon 
¶ ve and that (hall thou fynde oꝛ we departe 
And yk thou (pace me I ſhꝛow thy harte 
Let me ſe common 

¶ Ft piectus dicat J. 


N Cut out a las foꝛ payne 


Let me haue a pꝛyſt o2 I be ſlayne 
My (yn to dyſcloſe 
¶ And by caule he ſayth ſo / it is nede 
Foꝛ heis not in clene lyfe in dede 
J ele it at my nofe.fo2 fo. c. 
Nov ye ar mpne lady 
¶ Nay neuer the moꝛe 
¶ No why ſo 
¶ Foꝛ J am taken vp befoꝛe 
Mary J be ſhꝛew pour hart there fore 
t {hold better content me 
That pe had be taken bp be hynde 


an. 


282 


Nap nap ye vnderſtond not my mynde 
In that poynt 
¶ It may well be 
But tell me how ment ye then 
¶ Mary F am Cure to an other man 
whole wyke J intende to be 
Nap F trow by cockis paſſyon 
pe wyll not mocke bs of that falcpon 
pe map not fo2 very ſhame 
¶ Shame o2 not fo ſhall it be 
And by caule that fore the loue of me 
ve.ii.haue made this game 
It (hall not be done all in vayne 
Foꝛ J wyll rewarde you bothe twayne 
And ellis J were to blame 
Some what there by ye muſt nedis wyn 
And therfo2e to euer yche of you wyll J lppn 
A new peyꝛe of bꝛeches 
Take the that fore thy pole 
And by caule he is blacke in the hole 
He ſhall haue as moche 
¶ Et vtroq; flagellato recedit ancilla. 

¶ Oute a las what woman was this 
¶ It is lucres mayde 
¶ The deupll it is 
I pꝛay god a vengeance take her 
Hob ſaiſt thou ſhall ſhe be thy wyfe 
¶ May F had leuer Che had etyn my knyle 
IJ vtterly foꝛſake her 

¶ Intrat Gaius. 
¶ How ſyꝛs who hath a rayde you thys 
¶ Fals theuys maiſter I ps 
And all foꝛ pour quarell 


Ba. 
2 


Ga. 


Ga. 


Ga. 


Ga. 
5 


¶ what and this other man too 

pe and ye wolde dure hondes vndo 

The matter whe (hall tell 

¶ ves mary wyll J now tell on 

who bathe pou theſe wzongis done 

¶ Mary that F (hall 

Coꝛnelyus ſeruantis whiche is pour enmy 

Eſpped me goyng to ward lucres place 

That IJ coude bꝛynge the matter to paſſe ( 
Ok that gentplman as pour defpre was 85 
They leyd a wapte for me in the way 

And ſo they lefte me in this araye 

¶ ye but hatte thou ony dedely wounde a 
That is the thinge that ferpth my mynde 5 
¶ J faythe J was lette foꝛ dede on the qrounde 

And J haue a grete garce here by hynde 

Out of the whiche ther compthe ſuche awynde 


That yt ye holde a candyll therto A 
yt wyll blowe it oute that wyll hyt do 
Se to byt be tyme by myne aduple — 


Lett the wounde fewſter with in 

¶ Then haue I nede of a gode ſurgyn 
Sor hyt is ſo depe within the ſzyn 
That pe map put youre noſe therin 
Euyn vp to the harde eyes 

Here is à man that quyt hym alwell N 
Foꝛ my Defence as euer I {ec * 
He toke ſuche parte that in the quarcll L 
His arme was ſtrykyne of by the harde kne 2 
And yet / he ſiew of them.ii.oꝛ.iii. a 

¶ Be they flapne nap god foꝛbyde 

¶ ves lo helpe me god J warande them pede 
Hob be it J onde in grete dꝛede 


Ga. 


That yf euer F come in theyr way 
They wyll kyt of his arme oz his hede 
Joꝛ fo J herde them all. iti.ſay 

¶ whiche thay that were llayne 

¶ ve by this day 

what nedyth me therloꝛe to lye 

He herd it hym ſelfe as well as J 

¶ well then ye lye both two 

But nov tell me what haſt thou do 

As touchynge my cõmaundement 
That FJ badde the do to lucres 

Spa hkyſt thou with her 

¶ ve ſyꝛ dowtles 

And this is her intent 

Sche cõmaundyth hyr to you by the ſame tokyn 
That with hyr father (he hath ſpokyn 
Accoꝛdynge to pour requeſte 

And ſo ſhe wyliythe you to be of gode chere 
Delyꝛynge pou this nyght to appere 
Oꝛ to moꝛob at the furtheſt 

And ſhe wyll mete you here in this place 
To gyue vou B fpnall anſware in this caſe 
where to ye (hall truſt 

¶ That is the thing that J deſyze 

But ſayd ſhe ſo 

¶ ve be thys fyꝛe 

I tell you verey iuſte 

In ſo moche that ſhe bad me ſay 

And warne you that ye ſhulde puruap 
Foꝛ pour owne beſenes 

Foꝛ than it {hall determpde be 

whether publyus coꝛnelyus oꝛ pe 
Shall haue the p̃emynence 


Ga. 


Sa. 


¶ All that purpoſe lykythe me well 
But who Chall be here more canſt thou tell 
¶ Mary here (hall be fulgens 
And publius coꝛnelius hym ſelfe allo 
with dyuerſe other many moo 
Beſyde this honoꝛable audpence 
wher koꝛe pf ye wyll poure honour ſaue 
And your intent in this matter haue 
It is beſt that pe go hens 
Foꝛ to ſtudy and call to mynde 
Suche argumetis as ye can beſt kynde 
And make your Celfe all pꝛeſt 
¶ Thy counſell is gode be it ſo 
And euyn there after wyll J do 
Foꝛ J holde it beſt 
¶ Et ercat gatus d A. Intrat B. 
¶ Goddes body ſyꝛ this was affytt 
I be ſhꝛew the hoꝛys hart pett 
when F thinke ther on 
And pet the ſtrokys be not fo fore 
But the ſhame greupth me moze 
Sith that it was done 
Be fore fo many as here be pꝛeſent 
But and J myght take her 
By my trowth J (hall make her 
This dede to repent 
¶ vet thou were as gode holde thy peale 
402 ther is no remedy doutles 
Ther fore lett itt go 
It is to vs bothe grete foly and ſhame 
This matter ony moze to reherle oꝛ name 
¶ well than be it ſo 
And pet be cauſe Che hathe made me ſmart 


2 


B 


I truſt onys to ryde in her carte 

Be it ſhame oꝛ no 

I can not ſuſtre it paciently 

To be rebuked openly 

And to be mochyd alfo 

An other thing greuythe me werſt ok all 
I Chal be ſhent that J (hall 

Of my mapfter too 

Be cauſe 7 haue ben ſo long a way 
Oute of his pꝛeſence 

¶ Nay. nay. 

IJ haue harde fo muche lyth J went hens 
That he had lityll mynd to thyn offens 

¶ I pay vou tell me why 

¶Foꝛ as I bꝛought my mayſter on bps way 
IJ harde one of lucres men ſay 

Mhat thy mayſter hathe ben 

All this houre at her place 

And that he his anſwere hale 

This wyſe as Jmene 

She hathe appoynted hym to be here 
Done in the euynyng a boute Suppere 
An than he Chall haue a fynall anlwere 
what ſhe entendith to do 

And ſo than we ſhal know here intent 
FJoꝛ as J vnderſtond fhe wyll be content 
To haue one of them too 

But kurſt Che wyll nedis know the certayn 
whether is the moſt noble of them twayne 
This ſhe ſayeth alway 

¶ why that is ealy to vnderſtonde 

yf ſhe be fo wyſe as men bere in honde 


J Cxe ſo J hard you lay 


Let me fe now what is pour oppynion 
whether of them is moſt noble of condycion 
¶ That can J tell hardely 

He that hathe moſte nobles in ſtoꝛe 

Hym call I the moſt noble euer moꝛe 

Foꝛ he is moſt ſett by g 

And J am (ure coꝛnelpus is able 

with his owne goodis to bye a rable 

Ok ſuche as gapus is 

And ouer that yt noblenes of kynn 

May this womans fauour wynn 

J am ſure he can not mys D 

¶ ve but come hether (one to the ynde of this playe 
And thou ſhalt ſe wherto all that wyll wey 
It ſhall be foꝛ thy lernynge 

¶ ve cum agapue who wyll foꝛ me 

Foꝛ I uyll not be here fo mot Ff the 

It is a gentylmãly thinge 

That I ſhulde a wayt and com a gayne 
Joꝛ other mennys caufes and take ſuche payne 
J. wyll not do it J make god a vowe 

why myght not this matter be endyd nowe 
¶ Mary F (hail tell the why 

Lucres and her father may not attende 

At this leſon to make an ende 

So J hard them fap 

And alfo it is a curteyſe gyſe 

Foꝛ to reſpyte the matter this tuple 

That the partyes may 

In the meane tyme adupfe them well 

Foꝛ eyther of them bothe mutt tell 

And ſhew the belt he can 

To force the goodnes ok his owne condycion 


Bothe by example and gode reaſon 

J wold not foꝛ a ſwan 

That thou ſholdeſt be hens at that ſeaſon 
Foꝛ thou (halt here a reyal diſputacyon 
Bi twext them oꝛ thay haue do . 

An other thing muſt be conſidꝛed with all 
Thele folke that ſitt here in the halle 
May not attende there too 

whe may not with oure long play 

Lett them fro theyre dyner all day 

Tha haue not fully dyned 

Foꝛ and this play where ones ouere pat 
Some ok them wolde falle to fedyng as faſt 
As thay had bene almoſt pyned 

But no forle hardely and they do 

Uſſher gete them goode wyne therto 
Fyll them of the beſt 

Let it be do oꝛ pe wyll be ſhent 

F 02 it is the wyll and comaundement 
Ok the matter of the fet 

Bnd therfore we ſhall the matter fo2 bere 
And make apoynt euyn here 

Left we excede a mefure 

And we {hall do oure labour a trewe entent 
F 02 to play the remenant 

At my loꝛdis pleaſure 


¶ Finis prime partis 


Intrat A dtcens. 


Uche gode do it pou eueryche one 

D ye wyll not beleue how faſt J haue gone 

J. foꝛ fere that I Molde come to late 

No foꝛſe I haue loft but a lytyll ſwete 

That J haue taken vpon this hete 

My colde coꝛage to a bate 

But now to the matter that J cam foꝛe 

ye know the caule therof be fore 

pour wittis be not fo ſhoꝛt 

Herde my kelowys and J were here 

To day whan ye where at dyner 

And ſhewed vou a lytyll diſpoꝛt 

Ok one kulgens and his doughter lucres 

And ol. ii.men that made grett beſynes 

Her hulbonde koꝛ to be 

She anfwered to them bothe than 

Lonke whiche was the moze noble man 

To hym fhe wolde agre 

This was the ſubſtance of the play 

This was ſhewed here to day 

All be it that there was 

Dyuers topes mengled pn the fame 

To ſtyre folke to myrthe and game 

And to do them ſolace 

The whiche trykyllis be unptinent 

To the matter pꝛincipall 

But neuer the leſſe they be expedient 

Foꝛ to ſatiſfye and content 

Many a man with all 

Foꝛ ſome there be that lokis à gapys 

Only for ſuche trylles and Japys a 
e. i 


And ſome there be a monge 

That foꝛceth lytyll of ſuche madnes 
But delytyth them in matter ol ladnes 
Be it neuer lo longe 

And euery man mutt haue hys mynde. 
Ellis thay will many kautys kynde 
And lay the play was nought 

But no force I car not 

Let them lay and fpare not 

Foꝛ god knoweth my thought 

It is the mynde and intent 

Ok me and mp company to content 
The leſte that ſtondyth here 

And fo I truſt pe wyll it a lowe 

Ey godis mercy where am J now 

It were almys to wꝛynge me by the eave 
By caule J make luche degreſlion 
From the matter that J began 

whan J entred the halle 

FJoꝛ had J made a gode cõtynuaunce 
I ſholde haue put ou in remẽbꝛaunce 
And to pour myndis call 

Hob lucres wyll come hydera gayne 
And her ſayde louers bothe twayne 
To dpfipne thys queſtion 

whether of them ys the moze noble man 
Ff 02 theron all this matter began 

It is the cheke koundacyon 

Ol all thys pꝛoces both all and ſome 
And yk thes players where ons come 
Of this matter will they ſpeke 

I meruell gretely in inp mynde 

That thay tary ſo long behynde 


Thepre ho bre koꝛ to bꝛeke 
But what ſyꝛs I pray you euèrychone 
Haue pacpens fo2 thap come a none 
I am Cure they wyll not fayle 
But thap wyll mete in this place 
As theyre pꝛomps and apoputment wale 
And ellis N haue merueple 
Let me ſe what is now a cloke 
A there compth one J here hym broke 
He knokythe as he were wood 
One of pou go loke who it is 
@ May nay all the meyny of them J wis 
Can not ſo moche gode 
A man map rappe tyll his naplis ake 
D2 ony of them wyll the labour take 
To gyue hym an anfwere 
J haue grete maruell on the 
That euer thou wylt take vpon the 
To chyde ony man here 
No man is fo moche to blame as thow 
Foꝛ longe tarvinge 
ve god auow 
wyll pe play me that 
Mary that ſhall be amended anone 
J am late comen / and J wyll Cone be gone 
Ellis I ſhꝛew my catt 
Kockis body (p2 it is a fayre reſone 
IJ am com hedyr att this ſeaſon 
Only at thy byddynge 
And now thou mahkyſt to me a quarell 
As though all the matter were in parell 
By mp longe taryynge 
No v god be with you ſo mote Ithe 


e. ii. 


85 


d 


Se Fe 


ye (hall play the knaue a lone foꝛ me 
what Jama krapde 

J wis ye are but lewyde 

Turne agapne all be ſhꝛaewyde 

Mob are pou fapre pꝛayde 

¶ why than is your angyr all do 

¶ ve marp is it lo 

So is mne too 

4 hauc done clene 

But now how goyth this matter foꝛth 
Ok this mariage 

¶ Vy (apnttame ryght nought worth 
Fi wot neve what thay meane 

Foꝛ I can none other wife thinke 

But that fome of them begyn to ſheinke 
By cauſe of ther longe tariage 

¶ Shꝛynke now q a / mary that were meruele 
But one thinge of ſurete J can the tell 
As touchynge this mariage 

Coꝛnelius mp mapſter apoyntyth hym ther vpone 
And dowtles he wyll be here a none 

In payne of foatp pens 

In lo muche that he hath deuplpde 
Certayne ſtraungers kreſſhly diſgiſyd 
Att his owne erfpens 

Foꝛ to be here this nyght alſo 

¶ Straungers ꝙ a / what to do 

¶ Mary fo2 to glade with all a 
This gentylwomã at her hedyr comyng 
¶ A then F fe well we ſhall haue A mũmynge 
¶ ve ſurely that we ſhall 

And therkoꝛ neuer thinke it in thy mynde 
That my mapſter wyll be behynde 


Mon llacke at this bargyn 
Mary here he compth F haue hym aſpyde 
No more woꝛdis ſtonde thou a lyde 
Foꝛ it is he playne 
coꝛ. O My frpnde where abowt goiſt thou all day 
B ary ſyꝛ I came heder to a ſay 
whedyr theſe folke had ben here 
And yet thay be not come 
So helpe me god and holydome 
Ok that J haue moche maruaile / that thay tary ſo 
coz. ¶ Mary go thi way / wit where thay wyll oꝛ no 
BL xe god a vob (hall J fo 
coz. ¶ ve mary fo J fap 
B yet in that poynt as ſemytij me 
pedo not accoꝛdynge to pour degre 
coꝛ. ¶ I pꝛay the tell me why 
B ( Mary it wolde be com them well J now 
To be here a fore and to wayte vpon pou 
And not pou to tarp 
Joꝛ theyt layſyr and abyde them here 
As it were one that were ledde by the eare 
Joꝛ that J defy 
By this mene pou (holde be theyr dꝛuge 
I tell pou trought J DMR 
And pet the woꝛſt that greueth me 
Is that pour aduerlaty ſholde in pou ſe 
So notable B folp 
Therkoꝛe witdꝛaw pou foꝛ a ſeaſone 
coz. ¶ By ſeynt Johan thou {apt but reaſone 
B LC ye do ſo hardely 
And whan the tyme dꝛawith vpon 
That thay be com euerychone 
And all thinge redy 
e. fit. 


C02. 


C02. 


£02. 
B 


¶ Than Chall I come ſtreyght a wap 
Joꝛ to ſeche you withoute delay 

¶ Be it ſo hardely 

But one thinge whyle J thiuke ther one 
Remeber this when Jam gone 

pef hit happon fo 

That lucres come in fyꝛſt alone 

Go in hand with her anone 

How ſo euer thou do 

Joꝛ to kele her mynde toward me 

And by all meanis poſſyble to be 

In duce her ther vnto 

Than ſome token pou muſt gyue me 
F 02 ellis (he wyll not beleue me 

That J cam from pou 

¶ Mary that is euyn wyſely ſpoken 
Cõmaunde me to her by the lame token 
She knowpyth it well J now 

That as (he and J walkyde onis to gedyr 
In her garden hedyr and thedyr 
There happonde a ſtraunge caſe 

Foꝛ at the laſt we dyd ſe 

Abyꝛd littynge on a holow tre 

An alhe I trotv it was 

Anone ſhe pꝛayde me foꝛ to aſlap 

vl J coude ſtart the byꝛde a way 

¶ And dyde ye ſo / alas alas 

¶ why the deuyll layſt thou ſo 

¶ By cokkis bonis fo2 it was a kocko 
And men fap amonge 

He that thꝛowyth ſtone oꝛ ſtycke 

At ſuche abyꝛde he is lycke 

To ſynge that byꝛdes fonge 


coʒ· 


C02. 
B 


¶ what the deupll recke J therfo2e 
Here what J (ap to the euer moze 

And marke thine erand well 

Sy J had no ſtone to thꝛow with all 
And therfore ſhe take me her mulc ball 
And thus it bekell 

I by ft it as ſtrayght as ony pole 

So that it lyghtyde euyn in the hole 
Of the holow athe 

Low cant thou reméber all this 

¶ By god J wolde be loth to do amps 
Foꝛ ſome tyme Jam kull raſhe 

ye lay that ye kyſt it euyn in the hole 
Ok the holow alhe as ſtrayte as apole 
Sapde pe not ſo 


pes. 

¶ well then let me a lone 

As foꝛ this erande it (hall be done 

As fone as ye be go 

¶ Fare well then J leue the here 

And remẽbyr well all this gere 

Hob ſo euer thou do (Et exeat coꝛneliꝰ 
¶ ves hardely this erande ſhall be ſpoken 
But how (ap pou ſyꝛs by this tokene 

Is it not a quapnt thinge 

I went he hade bene a ſad man 

But J fe well he is amade man 

In this meſſage doynge 

But what. chole he koꝛ me 

I am but as a meſſanger perde 

The blame ſhall not be myne but his 

Foꝛ I wyll his token repoꝛte 

whether ſhe take it in erneſt oz (poste 


luc. 


luc. 


J wyll not therol mys 

Be Che wꝛoth o2 well a payde 

I wyll tell her euyn as he ſayde ¶ Intrat lucreg. 
¶ God a vow here ſhe is 

It is tyme fo2 me to be wyſe 

Now welcome lady. floure of pꝛiſe 
haue fought pou twyſe oꝛ thꝛyſe 
wythin this houre J wys 

¶ Me ſyꝛ haue ye ſought me 

¶ ve that I haue by god that bowght me 
¶ To what intent 

¶ Pary for I haue thingis a kew 
The which J mult to yon ſhew 

By my mayſters cõmàũdement 
Publius Coꝛnelius is hys name 

pour veray louer in payne of ſhame 
And yk ye loue hym not ye be to blame 
Foꝛ this dare J Cap 

And on a boke make it gode 

He lound you better than his one hart blode 
Cys harde bloode nay nap 

Half that loue wolde ſerue foꝛ me 

¶ vet ſithe he dyde pou kyꝛſt fe 

In the place where he dwellis 

He had louyd you ſo in hys hart 

That he lettyth not by hym ſelk a kart 
Noꝛ by noo man ellis 

And by cauſe ye ſhulde gyue credence 
Unto my ſayng in bys abſence 

And truſt to that I fap 

He tolde me tokyns.ii.oꝛ.iit. 

whiche J know well as he tolde me 

¶ Tokyns what be thay 


B Cet me ſe. now J had nede to be wyſe 
Foꝛ one of his tokyns is bery nyle 
As euer J harde tell 
He pꝛayd pou foꝛ to beleue me 
By the lame tokyn that pe and he 
walkyd to geder by a holow tre 
luc. All that J know well 
B ¶ A than J am pet in the ry ght way 
But J haue fom other thyng to fay 
Towchyng my credence 
whiche as I thynke were beſt to be (pared 
Foꝛ happely ye wold not haue it declared 
Bpfloꝛe all this audience 
luc. ¶ Nap nap hardely (pare not 
As fo2 my dedis J care not 
yt all the woꝛlde it harde 
6 ( Pary than thall J procede 
He ſhewde me allo in very dede 
Hob ther ſatt a byꝛde 
And than pe delyueryd hym pour mulkball 
Foꝛ to thꝛow at the byꝛd with all 
And than as he (apd ye dyd no woꝛs 
But euyn fayr kyſt hym on the noke of the ars 
luc. ¶ Nap ther thow lyeſt falſely by my kay 
B (Trouth it was on the hole of thars I ſhulde fap 
J wyſt well it was one ol the too 
The noke oꝛ the hole 
tuc. ¶ Na noꝛ pet ſo 
B ( By my fapth ye kyſt hym oꝛ he kyſt pou 
On the hole of thars chofe pou now {, 
This he tolde me (ure ; 7 . 
Hob be it IJ ſpeke it not in repꝛoue 1 ö 5 
02 it was done but foꝛ gode laue 


— 


4 Pair {> 


A 
wth 


luc. 


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And koꝛ no ſynkull pleaſure 

¶ Nay nay man thow art fart a mys 

I know what thyn erande is 

Though thow be necdpgent 

Ok thy koly thou mayſt well a baſſhe 

Foꝛ thou chuldis haue layde the holow aſſhe 
That hole thy mayſter ment 

¶ By god a vow I tro it was 

I crpe pou mercy J haue done pou treſpas 
But J pꝛay vou take it in pacyence 

Foꝛ I mpftoke it by necligence 

A mplcheef com theron 

He myght haue lent pou this gere in a lettet 
But J Chall go lerne myn erande better 
And cum ayen a non ¶ Et exeat. 

¶ ye ſo do hardely 

Nov foꝛ ſoth this was a lewed meflage 

As euer J harde (ith J was boꝛe 

And yf his mayſter haue therof knowlege 
He wyil be angry with hym therkoze 

How be it J will ſpeke therof no moze 

Foꝛ hyt hath ben my condiſcyon alwey 

No man to hender but to helpe where J map 
me ¶ Jutrat A. 

¶ Feyr mayſters lyketh it vou to know 
That my mapſter comaunde me to you 

¶ Cõmaundeth you to me 

¶ May cõmaundeth vou to hym 

¶ wele amendyd by ſaynt ſym 

¶ CTũmaundeth he to vou J wolde fap 

Oꝛ ellis pou to he now chole ye may 
whether lyketh pou better 

And here he ſendyth pou a letter 

Godis mercy J had it ryght now 


duc. 


luc. 


C02. 


Spꝛs is there none there a mong por 
That toke vp ſuche a wzytyng 
J pꝛap pou ſyꝛs let me haue it agayne 
C ve ar a gode meſſanger koꝛ certeyne 
But J pꝛay vou (p2 of one thyng 
who is pour mapſter tell me that 
¶ Maiſter what call ye hym pde pe wott 
whome J mene well and fyne 
¶ vet J know not fo mot I go 
¶ what pes ꝑde he that wolde haue pou fo 
¶ I ſuppole there be many of tho 
yl J wolde enclyne 
But pet know J not who pe mene 
J holde beſt that pe go a geyene 
To lerne pour mapſters name 
¶ By my fayth and J holde it beſt 
ye may lay J am a homely geſt 
In erneſt a in game 
(A byde J (hall go to pou nere honde 
what ps pour owne name J wolde vnderſtonde 
Tell me that oꝛ J go 
I trow thou canſt not well tell 
T By mp fayth not verely well 
By caule ye fap ſo 
¶ Et ſcalpẽs caput poſt modicũ interuallũ dicat 

¶ By this lyght J haue foꝛgoten 
How be it by that tyme J haue ſpoken 
with ſom of my company 
Fi (hall be acerteyned of this gere 
But ſhall I fynde pou agapne here 
Cpe that thow ſhalt happely 
EA ¶ Et exeat A. 1 

ob kapꝛ lucres accoꝛdyng to thappoynte 
That pe made with me here this day e 


luc. 


C02. 


By cauſe ye Chall not fynde me there neclygent 
Here J am come pour wyll to obey 
And redy am J fo2 m ſelfe to ſey 
That as towchyng the degre of noble condycion 
Betwyxt me and gayus there map be no coparifon 
And that all I thew you by apparent reaſdn 
yk it ſhall lyke pou that J now begynne 
¶ Na. ye (hall (pare it foꝛ a lytyll ſeaſon 
Tyl I ſuche tyme > gayus pour aduerſary come in 
Foꝛ J wll gyue pou therin none audience 
Tyll ye be both to geer in pꝛeſence 
And in ony tuple kepe well pour patience 
Lyke as I haue bound pou both to the peace 
J forbyde you vtterly. all maner of violence 
Durynge this matter. and alſo that ye ſeace 
Ok all ſuche woꝛdis as may gyue occaſion 
Ok bꝛallynge o2 other ongodely condycion 
L There (hal be in me no ſuche abulpon 
In woꝛde noꝛ. dede. J vou ꝓmyſe 
But now let me ſe. what occupation 
D2 what maner of pafle tyme wyll ye deuyſe 
whyle that theſe kolke dothe tarp this wyſe 
wyll ye lee a bace Baunce after the gyſe 
Oft ſpayne. whyle ye haueno thynge to do 
All thynge haue Jpuruatde that belongpth therto 
Cpr I (hall gyue you the lokynge on 
¶ wyll ye do 10 afke no moze 
Go fone and bidde them come thens a none 
Ind cauſe the mynyſtrellt to come in beffoꝛe 
¶ Mary. as foꝛ.one of them his lippe is fore 
I trow he map not pype he is fo ſyke 
Spele vp tamboꝛpne ik bide owe krelike 
¶ Et deinde coꝛiſabunt. 


C02. 


C02» 
luc. 


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Ga. 
Luc. 


¶ Foꝛ ſothe this was a godely recreacpon 

But J pꝛay pou of what mauer nation 

Be theſe godely creatours 

were they ol Englonde oꝛ of wales 

¶ May they be wylde Iriſſh poꝛtyngales 

That dyde all theſe pleaſures 

How be it / it was foꝛ my mayſters fake 

And he wyll deſerue it J vndertake 

On the largeſt wyſe 

¶ Go thy lelfe why ſtondis thou ſo 

And make them chere let it be do 

The beſt thou canſt deuyſe 

¶ ves they ſhall haue chere heuyn hye 

But one thing J pꝛompſe vou kaithkully 

Thep get no dꝛynke therto C Exeat. 
¶ Vicat lucres. 

¶ Lo here thys man ys come now 

Now map ye in pour matter ꝓcede 

pe remembꝛe both what J ſayde to you 

Touchynge myne anlwere IJ trow it is no nede 

Ony moze to reherſe it 

¶ No in veray dede 

Foꝛ moche reherſall wolde let the (pede 

Ok all this matter it nedyth no moze 

Let vs roundely to the matter we come foꝛ 

¶ ve that J pray pou as hartly as I can 

But kyꝛſt me ſemyth it were expedient 

That ye both name ſome indifferent man 

Foꝛ to gyue betwyxt pou the foꝛſeyde iugement 

(Lay as foꝛ that by myne aſſent 

No man ſhall haue that office but pe 

¶ And J holde me well content that it ſo be 

ve but notwythſtondyng that pe therto agre 


Ga. 


(02. 
Ga. 
£02. 


That I cholde this queſtion of nobles diffine 

It is à grete matter whiche as ſemyth me 
Pertayneth to a philoſopher oꝛ ellis a deuyne 

Hoh be it ſith the choyſe of this matter is myne 

I can be content vnder certayne pteftacpon 

whan that J haue harde you to fay myne opinion. 
¶ Lo this wyſe J mene and thus J do intende 
That what (o euer ſentẽce J gyue betwyxt pou two 
After myne owne fantaſie it (hall not extende 

To onp other pſon J wyll that it be fo 

Foꝛ why no man ellis hath theryn a do 

It map not be notyde fo2 a generall pꝛecedent 

All be it that foꝛ your partis ye do therto aſſent 

¶ As touchyng that poynt we holde vs well cötent 
pour ſentence (hall touche no man but vs twayne 
And ſith ye ſhall gyue it by our owne agrement 
None other man ought to haue there at dildayne 
wherkoꝛ all thys dout pe map well rekrayne 

And in p matter pꝛincipall this tyme wolde be {pent 
¶ Than wyll J begynne 

¶ J holde me well content 

¶ Syth ye haue pꝛompſed fayꝛe lucres here to loꝛe 
That to the moꝛe noble man ye wyll enclyne 

vary not fro that woꝛde and Jalke no moze 

Fo2 than ſhall the victoꝛy of this cauſe be myne 

As it ſhalbe eaſy to Jugge and diffpne 

Fo euery creature that ony reaſon bale 

Me lemyth J durſt make hym ſelk iugge in this cafe 
Saue that J fere me the beaute of pour face 
Sholde therin blynde hym lo that he ne myght 
Egally diſſerne the wꝛonge fro the right 

And if he were halt ſo wyſe a man in dede 

As he reputeth hym (elf loz to be 


vpon pour fatde anſwere he ſholde not nede 
Co gayne lay in this matter oꝛ trauers with me 
My noblenes is knowen thoꝛow all the cyte 
He knoweth hym ſelfe the noblenes of my kyn 
And at that one poynt my proces J wyll begyne 


Amonge all thiſtoꝛyes of Romapnes that ye rede 
where kynde pe ony blode of fo gret noblenes 

As hath ben the coꝛnelys wherok Jam bꝛede 
And it lo be that J wolde therin holde my peaſe 
pet all your coꝛnecles berpth gode witnes 

That my ꝓgenytours and auncetours haue be 
The chele ayde and diffence of this noble cpte 


Pow ofte haue myne auncetours i tymes ok neceſſite 
Delyuerd this cyte from dedely parell 

As well by theyr manhode as by theyr police 

what teopardi et paine they haue luffred in p quarell 
Thempire to encrece and koꝛ the comune wele 

It nedith not the ſpecialties to reherſe oꝛ name 
Sith euerp trew romaine knoweth the lame 


In euery manys hobſe that hiſtoꝛies be rife 
And wartten in booke as in Come placis be 

The geftis of arthur. oꝛ of alexandyrs life 

In the whiche ſtoꝛies pe may euidently ſe 

And rede how Cartage that roy all cyte 

By civion of affrick my grete graunte lire 
Subduede was and allo aſcribede to his empire 


And many other cpties that dyde conſpire 
Ayenſt the noble ſenatoure makynge reliſtence 
As often as neceſſite did it requite 
They were reducyd vuto due 0 i 
. ii. 


Eyther by the policy oꝛ by the violence 
Ok my ſayde aunceters thiſtoꝛies be plapne 
And witneſſe p F ſpeke not thele woꝛdis in vayne 


My blode hath euer takyn ſuche payne 

To fatue garde the comune wele fro ruyn a decay 
That by one aduyſe the Cenat dyde oꝛdeyne 
Them to be nampd the faders of the contrarp 
And (o were myne auctours reputed alway 

Foꝛ in euerp nede they dyde vpon them call 

Foꝛ helpe as the chylde Doth on the fader naturall 


How be it to pꝛaye them it was no nede at all 
Foꝛ of their owne myndis they were redy alway 
In tokyn of the fame foꝛ a memoziall 

Ol theyr deſertis the cytie dyde edifpe 
Triumphall arches wheruppon ye may 

To my grete honour ſe at this day 

Thymages ol myn auncetours euyn by and by 
By caule that theyr noblenes ſholde neuer dye 


In token alſo that they were woꝛthy 

Grete honour and paple of all the contra 
It is cõmaunded and bled generally 

That euery cptesen that palſtth that way 
By the fapde Images he muſt obep 

And to that fygures make a Due reuerence 
And ellis to the lawes he dothe grete offence 


Sith it is fo than that of conuenience 

Suche honoure and homage muſt nedis be do 
To theſe dede pmagis than muche moꝛe reuerence 
To me ſholde be geupn J trow pe thinke lo 


luc. 


Foꝛ I am theyr very pmage and relyque to 
Ok theyr kleſch and blode. and veray Inherptoure 
As well ol theyr godes. as ol theyt lapde honoure 


To me they haue left many a caſtell and toure 
whiche in theyr triũphes thay rightfully wan 
To me they haue allo left all theyr treſoure 
In ſuche abundaunce that J trow no man 
with in all rome ſith it kyꝛſt began 
pot half the ftoze as J bnderftonde 

hat I haue euyn now at ons in my honde 


Lo in theſe thyngk my noblenes doth ſtonde 
whiche in myne oppynyon lulfliſeth fo2 this intent 
And J trow there is no man thꝛowah all this londe 
Ol Italy but fhe were here pꝛeſent 

He wolde to my layng in this matter aſlent 

And gyue vnto me the honoure and peminence 
Rather than make a gapne me reliſtence 


J maruaple gretly what ſhulde thy mynde inſence 
To thinke that thy tytle therin ſholde be gode 
Parde tho w canſt not fap fo2 thy deffence 

That euer there was gentilman of thy kyn oꝛ blode 
And if there were oone it wolde be vnderſtonde 
without it be thy felf whiche now of late 

Among noble gentylmen playeſt check mate 

¶ No more therof F pꝛay pou. ſuche woꝛdis J hate 
And J dyde foꝛ bid pou them at the begynnyng 
To eſchue thoccaſyon of ftrpfe and debate 

¶ Nay let hym a lone he ſpekyth after his lernyng 
for IJ Chall anſwer hym to euery thyng 

whan he hath all ſaid ik pe woll here me 


f. lii. 


(02. 


As I thinke pe wyll of pour equpte 

(Abide J mu make an ende fyꝛſt pde 

To pou ſwete lucres J wolde haue laid beffo2e 
That yt ye wyll to mp deſyꝛe in this matter agre 
Doubtles pe (hall bleſle theſtyme p euer pewere bore 
Joꝛ riches (hall ye haue at pour will euer moze 
without care oꝛ ſtudy of laboꝛioule beſynes 

And {pend all your dayes in eaſe & pleſaũt idelneſſe 


About your owne apparell ye can do non erceſſe 

In my copanp that ſholde diſpleſe my mynd 

with me {gall ye do non other maner of belynes 

But hunt fo2 pour ſolace at the hart and hynde 
And ſome tyme where we couentent game fynde 
Oure hawkis (hal be redy to ſhew you a flight 
whiche ſhal be right plefant a cherekul to pour fight 


And pk ſo be that in huntyng pehaue no delyght 
Than map ve daunce a whyle foꝛ pour diſpoꝛt 
ye ſhall haue at pour pleaſure both day and night 
All maner of mynſtralſy to do pou comfort 

Do what thyng pe wyll J haue to ſuppozt 

Our chargis. and ouer that J may luſteyne 

At myne owne kyndyng an. C. oʒ twayne 


And as foꝛ hym J am certayn 

ps auncetours were of full pooze degre 

All be it that now withyn a pere oꝛ twapne 
By caule that he wold a gentilman be 

He hath hym goten both office and lee 
whiche alter the rate of hys wꝛechyd ſparyng 
Suffileth ſcarſely koꝛ bys bare lyuynge 


wherfoꝛe lwete lucres it were not accoꝛdyng 
Foꝛ pour grete beaute with hym to dwell 

Foꝛ there cholde ye haue a thꝛede bare lyuynge 
with wzechyd ſcarcenes and J haue herde tell 
That maydens of pour age loue not ryght well 
Suche maner of hulbondis without it be thay 
That foꝛceth lytyll to caſt them (elf a way 


mene ſpecyally foꝛ ſuche of them as may 

pede better ik they wyll as ye be yn the caſe 
And therkoꝛe lucres what fo euer he wyll fap 
ps title agaynſt you to foꝛce and embꝛace 
ye (hail do your owen ſelfe to grete a treſpas 
yk ye folow hys part and enclyne therto 
No ay what / ye wyll ſyz foꝛ J haue all doo 


¶ with ryght gode wil J Chall go to 

So that pe will here me with as grete pacience 

As J haue harde you / reaſon wolde foo 

And what fo euer J (hall ſpeke in this audience 
yther of mpn obne merit oꝛ of hys inſolence 

pet fyꝛſt vnto you all ſyꝛs J make this requeſt 
That it wolde lyke pou to conſtrue it to the beſt 


Foꝛ lothe wolde J be as ony creature 

To boſte of myne owne dedis it was neuer my gyle 
On that other ſyde loth Jam to make ony repoꝛtur 
Of this mans foly oꝛ hymn to dilpice 

But neuer p leſle this matt towehith mei ſuche tile 
That what fo euer pe thinke in me J mutt ꝓcede 
vnto the veray trouth therof. as the matt is in dede 


To make a grete reherſall of that ye haue ſaide 
The tyme will not ſuffre but neuer the leſſe 


Two thing fo2 pour ſelt in ſubſtaũce pe hauclapd 
whiche as ve ſuppoſe maketh fo2 pour nobles 
Upon the whiche thingis dependith all your peefle 
prt of pour auncetours pe allege the noble geſtis 
Secondly p lubſtaunce p pe haue of theyr bequefte. 


In the whiche thingis onely by pour owne cõfeſſion 
Standeth all pour noblenes this ſayd pe belfoze 
where vnto this J (ap vnder the coꝛzection 

Ok lucres oure Jugge here that ye ar neuer p more 
woꝛthy in myne oppyntõ to be callyd noble therfoze 
And withoute pe haue bett caules to ſhew tha thele 
Ok reſon pe mul the victoꝛy of this matter leſe 


To p fyꝛſt parte as touching pour auncetours dede 
Some of them were noble lyke as pe declare 
Theſtoꝛis bereth witnes J muſt graũt them ned 
But yet for all that ſome of them ware 

Of contrary dipolycion like as pe are 

Joꝛ they dyde no pꝛoffite no moze do pe 

To the comon wele of this noble cytie 


yk ye wyll the title of noblenes wynne 
She what haue pe done pour ſelktherkoꝛe 
Some of pour otwne meritis let ſe / bꝛyng in 
yl euer ye dyde ony (pth pe were bore 

But ſurely ye haue no ſuche thyng in ſtoꝛe 
Ok your owne merit wherby of right 

ve ſhulde appere noble to ony mãnys light 


But neuer theleſſe J wyll you not blame 
Thowgh ye ſpeke not of pour one deve at all 
And to ap the trowght ye may not foꝛ ſhame 


pour lyfe is ſo boluptuouſe and fo beſtiall 
as kolowynge of euery luſt ſenſuall 

at I maruaille no thynge in my mynde 
yk e leue pour obne dedis be hynde 


He wenyth that by hys pꝛoude contenaunce 

Ok woꝛde and Dede with nyſe aray 

ys grete othys and open mayntenaunce 

Ok theftis and murdꝛes euery day 

Alſo hys tyotouſe diſpoꝛtis and play 

ps Cloth his cowardy and other exceſſe 

Hys mynde difpoled to all vnclenneſſe 

By theſe thyngis oonly he (hall haue nobleneſſe 


Map the title of noblenes wyll not enſue 

A man that is all qeupn to ſuche inſolence 
But it groweth of longe continued vertu 
As J ttuſt lady that poure indifference 

Can well diffyne by pour lentence 

Hys auncetours were not of ſuche condicion 
But all contrarp to hys diſpoſicyon 


And therfore they were noble withouten faile 
And dyde grete honoure to all the contrey 
But what can theyr ſayde noblenes aduaple 
To hym that takyth a contrary way 

Ok whome men ſpehith euery day 

So grete diſhonoure that it is maruel 

The contrey ſulfereth hym therin to dwelſe 


And where he to wyteth me Abo 


He doth me therin a wꝛongkull offence 
Foꝛ no man thall thankis oꝛ pꝛayſyng wyn 


ur Re or 


By the gyltis that he hath of natures influence 
Lpke wple J thinke by a contrarp ſenſe 

That ifa man be boꝛne blynde oz lame 

Not he hym ſelle but nature therin is to blame 


Therkoꝛ he doth not me therin repꝛeue 

And as foꝛ that poynt / this J wott welle 
That both he and J cam of adam and eue 
There is no difference that J can tell 

whiche makith oon man an other to excell 
So moche as doth vertue and godely maner 
And therin J map well with hym compare 


Hob be it. J ſpeke it not foꝛ myne one praple 

But certeynly this hath euer be my condicion 

J hane boꝛne vnto god all my Dates 

His laude and pꝛayſe with me due deuocton 

And next that J bere ali wayes 

To all mp neyghbours charitable affeccyon 
Incõtynency q; onclénes Itihaue had in abhomiacio 
Loupng to my frende and faythfull with all 

And euer J haue withſtonde my luſtis lenſuall 


One tyme with ſtudy my tyme J ſpende 

To eſchew J delnes the cauler of lyn 

In other tyme my contrey manly J delfend 
And fo2 the vtctoꝛyes that J haue done therin 
ve haue lene pour ſelfe ſyꝛ that J haue come in 
To this noble cytee twyle oꝛ thyꝛle 

Crownpd with lawryel as it is the gyle 


By thefe wayes lo J do aryſe 
Unto grete honoure fro low degre 
And pt mpn heires will do like wyſe 


Thap (hal be brought to nobles by me 

But Coꝛnelp it ſemyth by the 

That the nobles of thyn auncetours euerpcheon 
Shall vtterly farce and die in the alone 


And where he towiteth me on that other ſyde 
Ok ſmall poffeffion and grete ſcaecenes 

Foꝛ all pᷣ lady if pe will with me a bidde 

I (hall aſſure pou of moderate richeſſe 

And that ſufficient for vs both Doutles 

ye ſhall haue alſo a man accoꝛdyng 

To poure owne condicions in euer thing 


Mow lucres J haue ſhewyd vnto you a parte 
Ol my title that J clayme pou by 
Beſechynge pou therkoꝛe with all my hart 
To conſidꝛe bs both twayne indifferently 
whiche of vs twayne ye will rather alow 
oꝛe woꝛthy fo2 nobles to marry with pou 
luc. ¶ Spas J haue hard you both at large 
cor. ¶ Nay abidelucres I pꝛay vou hertiy 
Sithe he leyeth many thynges to my charge 
Sulftre that I map therunto repply 
luc. I wis replication ſhall not be neceſſary 
withoute that ye haue ſome other thing in ſtoze 
To ſheb foꝛ pour (elf than ye dyde beffoꝛe 
coꝛ. ¶ why lady what thing will ye deſyꝛe moꝛe 
Than J haue ſhewyd to make fo2 noblenes 
luc. ¶ ves fom thyng ther ps that makyth therfore 
Better than ve haue ſhewid in your ꝓceſſe 
But now let me ſe what man of witnes 
D2 what other pꝛoues will pe forth bꝛyng 
By the whiche eyther ol pou may iuttific his ſayng 


a. ¶ As foꝛ my parte J wyll onde gladly 
To the cõmune voyce ok all the contrey 
luc. ¶ And ye lyke wyle ſyꝛ 
coꝛ. ¶ ve certaynly 
I Chall in no wyſe pour woꝛde diſſobey 
luc. ¶ Than wyll J betwyxt pou both take this wap 
I (hall go enquyre as faſte as J map 
what the comune kame wyll theryn repoꝛte 
And whan F haue therof a due euidence 
Than (hall Ja gapne to you reſoꝛte 
To ſhew you thopynyon of my ſentence 
whome J wyll iugge to haue the pempnence 
coꝛ. ¶ Nay fayꝛe lucres J pou requpte 
Let me not now depart in vayne 
Not knowyng theffect of my defp2e 
luc. ¶ Sy all though it be to you a payne 
pet muſt ye do ſo euyn both twayne 
Eche of you depart hens to hys owne place 
And take no moꝛe labour oꝛ payne in this caſe 
Toꝛ as towchyng theffect of my ſentence 
I (hall go wꝛite it by gode aduyſement 
Sone after that J am departed fro hens 
And than to eyther of you both ſhalbe ſent 
A copp of the fame to this intent 
That of none other pfon it (hall be ſayn 
Sith it concerneth but onely vnto you ttvapne 
Ga. ¶ This is a gode waye as in my mynde 
Ar not ye ſyꝛ content in lyke wyle 
cor, ¶ I wot nere pet J wyll pꝛayſe as J fynde 
And as J haue cauſe that is euyr my gyſe 
Ga. ¶ well lucres will ye cõmaunde me ony ſeruyce 
luc. ¶ No ſeruyce at all ſyꝛ why lay pelo 
Our loꝛde ſpede you both where ſo euer ve goo 


luc. 


Et exeant pub.coꝛnelus et 

gaius flam. 
¶ Now fom mayde happely. a (he were in my cale 
wolde not take that way that J do intend 
Foꝛ I am fullp determyned with godis grace 
So that to gatus J wyll condyſcend 
Foꝛ in this caſe J do hym cõmend 
As the moꝛe noble man ſith he thys wyſe 
By meane ol hys vertue to honoure Doth arple 
¶ And foꝛ all that J wyll not diſpiſe 
The blode of coꝛnelius IJ pꝛay pou thinke not fo 
God koꝛbede that pe ſholde note me that wyſe 
Foz truelp I (hall honoure them where fo euer J go 
And all other that be of lyke blode alſo 
But vnto the blode J wyll haue lytyl reſpect 
where tho condicpons be ſynkull and abiect 
¶ I pꝛay vou all ſyꝛs as meny. as bechere 
Take not my woꝛdis by a ſiniſtre way 
¶ ves by mp trouth J (hall witnes bere 
where lo euer J be com a nother day 
Ho ſuche a gentylwoman did opynly fap 
That by a choꝛles fon (he wolde let moꝛe 
Than ſhe wolde do by a gentylman boꝛe 
Map ſyꝛ than pe report me amys 
¶ J pꝛay vou tell me how (apd ye than 
¶ Foꝛ god ſyꝛ the ſubſtaũce of my woꝛdis was this 
4 (ap euyn as I (aide whan J began 
That fo2 vertue excellent J will honoure a man 
Rather than fo2 hys blode it it ſo fall 
That gentil condicyons a gre not with all 
¶ Than F put cafe that a gentilman boze 
Haue godely maners to his birth accoꝛdyng 
CF lap ot hym is to be let gret ſtoꝛe 

gi. 


Suche one is worthy more lawde and pꝛayſyng 
Than many of them that hath their begynnyng 
Ok low kynred ellis god koꝛbede 

I wyll not afferme the contrary fo2 my hede 
Foꝛ in that caſe ther may be no tomparylon 
But neuer the leſſe J (aid this befoꝛe 

That a man of excellent vertuouſe condicions 
All though he be of a poze ſtoke boze 

pet J wyll honour and comende hym more 
Than one that is deſcendide of ryght noble kyn 
whole lyffe is all diſlolute and rotyde in (pu 
And therkoꝛe J haue determyned vtterly 

That gaius flaminius ſhall haue his intent 

To hym onely I (hall mp ſelf apply 

To ble me in wedloke at his comaundement 
So that to coꝛnelyus I wyll neuer aſſent 

All though he had as grete poſſeſſion 

Als ony one man in criſten region 

I ſhall in no wyſe fauour oꝛ loue bys condicyon 
Hob be it that his blode requyreth due reuerence 
And that ſhall I gyue hym with all ſubmyſlion 
But yet (hall he neuer haue the pempnence 

To ſpeke of very nobles by my ſentence 

ye be hys ſeruaunt ſyꝛ go pour way 

And report to pour mapſter euyn as I (ap 

¶ Shall J do that erand nay let be 

By the rode ye (hall do it pour ſelfe foʒ me 

J ꝓmyſe you fapthfullp 

I wolde my mapſter had be in ſcotland 

whan he dyd put this matter in her hand 

To ſtond to her iugement 

But fo2 aſmoche as it is fo 

That this wꝛong to hym is doo 


By a woman. he muſt let it goo 
And holde hym content 
But he is of ſuche diſpolycion 
That whan he hereth of this concluſion 
He wylbe ſtarke madd 
pe by my trowth as made as an hate 
It (hall make hym ſo full of care 
That he wyll with hym (elf fare 
Eupn as it were a lade 
And fo wold not J ſo mote F thee 
Foꝛ this matter and J were as he 
It ſhulde neuer anger me 
But this wold J do 
I wolde let her go in the mare name 
what now ſyꝛs how goth the game 
what is this woman go 
¶ ve pe man. 
¶ And what wap hathe (he takyn 
¶ By my fayth my mapſter ts foꝛſakyn 
And nedis ſhe wyll a gre 
Unto thy mapſter thus (he (ateth 
And manp caules therfoze ſhe lepeth 
why it ſhulde ſo be 
¶ I maruaple gretely wherok that grue 
¶ By mp fayth the (aide J tell the true 
That (he wolde nedis haue hym foꝛ his vertue 
And koꝛ none other thynge 

2 ¶Uertue what the deuyll is that 

And J can tell F ſhꝛew mp cate 
To mpne vnderſtondynge 

5 (y my layth no moꝛe can J 

But this the (aid here opynly 
All thele kolke can tell 


g.tt. 


85 


2 §2 


Ho wi ſay pe gode woman is it pour gyſe 
To choleatl pour hulbondis that wple 
By my trought than J] maruatle 

@ Map this ts the fere lo mot J goo 

Tat men chife not theyr wyflf fo. 

In placis where J haue be 

Joꝛ wife may weill complayne and grone 
Albe it that cauſe haue they none 

That FJ can here oꝛ fe 

But of weddyd men there be ryght fewe 
That welle not lay the beſt is a ſhꝛew 
Therin they all a gree 

warne pou weddyd men euerichone 
That other remede haue pe none 

So moche foꝛ pour eaſe 

And ye wold ſtudy tyll to moꝛow 

But let them euyn alone with ſoꝛow 
whan they do pou dilpleaſe 

Tuſſhe here is no man that ſettyth a blank 
By thy confell oꝛ kõneth the thank 
Speke therof no moze 

They knob that remedy better than thow 
But what (hall we twayne do now 

I care moſt therkoꝛe 

Me thinketh that matter wolde be wit 

¶ Mary we may goo hens whan we lyſt 
No man (aith vs nap 

¶ why than is the play all do 

¶ ve by my feyth and we were ong go 

It were do ſtreght wey 

¶ And I wolde haue thought in bere dede 
That this matter ſholde haue ꝓcede 

To ſom other concluſion 


¶ ve thou art a maiſter merp man 
Thou Chall be wyſe J wot nere whan 
Is not the queſtion 

Sk noblenes now fullp dekynde 

As it may belo. by a womans mynde 
what woldyſt thow haue moze 
Thow toldeſt me that other day 
That all the ſubſtaunce of this play 
was done ſpecially therfoꝛ 

Mot onely to make folke mpath and game 
But that ſuche as be gentilmen ol name 
May be ſomwhat mouyd 

By this example for to eſchew 

The wey of vyce and fauour vertue 
Joꝛ ſyn is to be repꝛouyd 

More in them. koꝛ the degre 

Than in other parſons ſuch as be 

Ok pour kyn and birth 

This was the cauſe pꝛincipall 

And alfo foꝛ to do with all 

This company ſome myrth 

And though the matter that we haue playde 
Be not percaſe ſo wele conuepde 

And with ſo gret reaſon 

As thiſtoꝛy it (elf requpreth 

yet the auctour therok delprith 

That for this ſeaſon 

At the leſt pe will take it in pacience 
And yk therbe ony offence 

Sho vs where in oꝛ we go hence 
Done in the ſame 

It is onely far lacke of cõnynge 

And not he / but his wit ranpnge 


Ra 
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